Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 19, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 8, Toronto 5

The Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the best teams in the majors over the past four weeks - and they'll have their hottest hurler on the mound Saturday as they continue their weekend series with the host Toronto Blue Jays. Jeremy Hellickson looks to extend his personal four-game winning streak as he faces a Blue Jays team that has traditionally struggled against him. Tampa Bay won for the 17th time in 21 games with an 8-5 triumph in Friday's series opener.

While the Rays continue their ascent in the American League playoff race, the Blue Jays are running out of games. Esmil Rogers surrendered four home runs in Friday's defeat, slipping Toronto five games below .500 and well out of both the AL East and wild-card chase. The Blue Jays counter Saturday afternoon with Mark Buehrle, who followed up a sensational outing against Minnesota with a dud against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, SUN (Tampa Bay), RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (8-3, 4.67 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (5-6, 4.89)

After struggling earlier in the year, Hellickson is finally looking like the pitcher who posted ERAs of 2.95 and 3.10 the previous two seasons. The 26-year-old has put together five consecutive quality starts, including six innings of three-run ball in a no-decision last time out against the Twins. Hellickson is 4-2 with a 2.67 ERA in nine career starts against Toronto - including a seven-inning victory last month in which he held the Blue Jays to one hit and four walks.

Buehrle had been sensational at keeping the ball in the park leading into his last start. Like most AL starting pitchers, however, he couldn't match that success against the Baltimore Orioles - surrendering three homers and eight total runs over six innings. Buehrle is 8-4 with a 4.55 ERA over 114 2/3 career innings versus the Rays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Buehrle threw baseball's 18th perfect game against the Rays on July 23, 2009 as a member of the Chicago White Sox.

2. The Rays lead the season series 6-5.

3. Tampa Bay OF Wil Myers has hit two of his four major-league home runs against Toronto, including a solo blast Friday.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Blue Jays 4