Toronto @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2013 ) Toronto 4, Tampa Bay 5

J.A. Happ's previous encounter with the Tampa Bay Rays provided one of the scariest moments of his life. Happ returns to the scene of the accident as he leads the Toronto Blue Jays to Tropicana Field on Saturday night in the second of a three-game series against Tampa Bay. The Rays opened the series with a dramatic 5-4 win, as Jose Lobaton's walkoff triple moved Tampa Bay to within a game of Boston atop the American League East standings.

Happ will make his third start since being forced to miss three months after a batted ball from Desmond Jennings struck him in the head, fracturing his skull and causing him to suffer a sprained right knee as he fell. He'll be opposed Saturday by veteran hurler Roberto Hernandez, who is coming off back-to-back subpar starts. Tampa Bay leads the season series 9-5.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (2-2, 5.11 ERA) vs. Rays RH Roberto Hernandez (6-12, 4.95)

Happ has shown a little bit of everything in the two starts since his return. The 30-year-old was tagged for seven runs on seven hits in four miserable innings against Seattle in his first start, but bounced back five days later with seven innings of one-run ball in a victory over Oakland. Happ, who is winless in his last seven appearances, is 0-1 with a 10.97 ERA in 10 2/3 career innings against Tampa Bay.

Hernandez threw his first complete game in three seasons late last month but has been mediocre since. The 32-year-old hasn't made it out of the fifth inning in either of his ensuing two starts, surrendering eight runs over 8 2/3 frames in that span. Hernandez is 3-2 with a 4.01 ERA in his career against Toronto, and was on the wrong end of a 3-0 decision back on June 26 despite tossing eight strong innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays 1B/DH Adam Lind is 5-for-13 with two home runs and five RBIs against Hernandez.

2. The Rays are batting .412 against Happ over his career.

3. Toronto hasn't won a series in Tampa Bay since taking two of three back on April 4-6, 2007.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Rays 3