Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 5, Toronto 7

The Toronto Blue Jays are back to providing their starters with ample run support after a minor hiccup in the Big Apple. Ramon Ortiz will be hoping for a repeat performance as he takes the hill Tuesday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. The Blue Jays opened the three-game set with a 7-5 victory highlighted by eight strong innings from R.A. Dickey and a three-run double from Edwin Encarnacion. Toronto enters with a four-game winning streak at Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays returned to their high-scoring ways after being limited to a pair of runs in two games against the New York Yankees. Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb will look to cool the Toronto bats once more - but to do so, the young right-hander will need to improve his ragged road resume. Both teams are riding hot hitters, with Rays star Evan Longoria riding a 14-game hitting streak and Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera batting .407 over his last 13 games.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Cobb (4-2, 2.89 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Ramon Ortiz (1-1, 2.35)

Cobb's dominance at Tropicana Field (3-0, 1.85 ERA) hasn't carried over to the road, where he has one victory in three starts. He is coming off one of his best starts of the season, limiting Boston to a run on three hits over 6 1/3 innings but earning a no-decision in a 4-3 Red Sox triumph. Cobb's only career appearance against Toronto came last Aug. 8, when he held the Blue Jays to a run on three hits over seven sensational innings en route to a 3-2 victory.

Ortiz's 6-2 career record against the Rays doesn't provide much insight into how he may perform Tuesday. Ortiz, who turns 40 on Thursday, has only faced three members of the Tampa Bay roster - and they're hitting a collective 4-for-13 against him. Ortiz has pitched well since joining the injury-riddled Toronto rotation, but has been rather fortunate. He has allowed 16 base runners over 12 innings as a starter, but only two have come around to score.

WALK-OFFS

1. Longoria is batting .393 during his hitting streak to raise his season average to .331.

2. Opposing road lineups are hitting .289 off Cobb over his career, compared to .215 at Tropicana Field.

3. Ortiz last faced the Rays on May 3, 2007 as a member of the Minnesota Twins.

PREDICTION: Rays 8, Blue Jays 3