Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2016 ) Tampa Bay 12, Toronto 2

The Tampa Bay Rays are hardly an offensive juggernaut by any means, ranking in the bottom third among major-league teams in a number of categories prior to their three-game series versus the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto may offer a different take on the Rays' offense after being on the business end of a pair of barrages entering Wednesday's finale at Rogers Centre.

Tampa Bay launched four homers and set season highs in both runs (13) and hits (17) in the opener on Monday before matching that hit total the following night in a 12-2 rout. Steve Pearce went deep in the opener and is 4-for-7 with four RBIs and three runs scored in the series heading into Wednesday's tilt versus veteran knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, against whom he is just 1-for-6 with three strikeouts. While Tampa Bay began its eight-game road trip with a bang, Toronto has dropped four in a row overall and five of the nine meetings in 2016 between the American League East rivals. Jose Bautista, who belted a two-run homer in Tuesday's setback, is appealing the one-game suspension he received from Major League Baseball for his role in Sunday's brawl with Texas.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (0-2, 3.83 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (2-4, 4.31)

Odorizzi has pitched well in a pair of outings versus Toronto this season, only to walk away without a decision each time. The 26-year-old allowed just one earned run in both contests against the Blue Jays and struck out a campaign-best 10 on April 5. Odorizzi's last start on Friday left plenty for which to be desired, as he matched his sum total of homers in his previous seven starts by being taken deep on three occasions and exited after four innings in a no-decision versus Oakland.

Dickey authored his best start of the season on Friday by scattering three hits and striking out six in eight innings of a 5-0 triumph over Texas. The 41-year-old's victory was his first since April 4, when he allowed three runs on six hits in five frames of a 5-3 win versus Tampa Bay. Dickey, however, needs to right his issues at home, as he's 0-3 with a gaudy 5.55 ERA in four starts (24 1/3 innings) at Rogers Centre.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria has scored at least one run in each contest of his six-game hitting streak.

2. Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson is 1-for-21 in his last five outings.

3. Seven of Rays LF Brandon Guyer's 10 hits in his last seven games have been for extra bases (five doubles, two homers).

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Blue Jays 2