Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( May 1, 2016 ) Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 1

Familiar foes take their battle North of the Border on Monday as the Tampa Bay Rays begin a nine-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The American League East rivals already have met seven times this season, with Toronto claiming four victories at Tropicana Field.

"I know them, and they know me," Rays left-hander Drew Smyly told MLB.com hours ahead of making his third start versus the Blue Jays this season. "They're a really tough lineup if you make mistakes. They're going to hit it. So you've just got to be on top of your game and make good pitches." Neither club has been on top of its game of late as Tampa Bay has dropped five of six while Toronto has lost three of four - including a tension-filled 7-6 setback to Texas that saw Jose Bautista take a stiff punch to the face from the Rangers' Rougned Odor. Bautista presumably will attempt to turn the other cheek when he returns to the field to face Smyly, against whom he is just 1-for-9 (.111) in his career.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Drew Smyly (1-4, 3.63 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (5-0, 2.05)

Smyly allowed two homers for the second time in three outings to suffer his second loss in that span with Tuesday's 6-4 setback to Seattle. The 26-year-old lost both of his previous encounters with Toronto this season and looks to get back on track at Rogers Centre, where he owns a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA in three career meetings. Josh Donaldson, who went 0-for-14 in his last three games, is a blistering 7-for-14 with three homers in his career versus Smyly.

Happ improved upon his unblemished season by recording his best outing of the campaign, scattering six hits over 8 2/3 innings in Tuesday's 4-0 triumph against San Francisco. The 33-year-old has yielded three runs or fewer in 17 consecutive contests while allowing just that many in 6 2/3 frames of a no-decision versus the Rays on April 30. Tampa Bay's Brandon Guyer homered twice in Sunday's 7-6 setback to Oakland and has recorded four hits and seven RBIs in his last two contests but is just 2-for-14 (.143) lifetime against Happ.

WALK-OFFS

1. Toronto MGR John Gibbons likely will face discipline from Major League Baseball for returning to the field Sunday following an ejection earlier in the contest.

2. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria has collected a double and a run scored in each contest during his four-game hitting streak.

3. Blue Jays SS Troy Tulowitzki is 8-for-20 (.400) with three homers, seven RBIs and as many runs scored in his last five contests.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Rays 2