Toronto @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2013 ) Toronto 6, Tampa Bay 2

The Tampa Bay Rays are within two games of Boston in the American League East even though they received only one victory from a starting pitcher since July 30. Chris Archer looks to change that pattern Sunday when he takes the mound against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber match of a three-game series. The Rays won three of the last four and their leading run producer, Evan Longoria, is warming up again, going 6-for-15 in that span with four extra-base hits.

Toronto leadoff batter Jose Reyes is expected to miss his second straight game with a sore right knee. The Blue Jays did not need him Saturday when Adam Lind homered twice in a 6-2 victory - their sixth in 15 games against Tampa Bay in 2013. Todd Redmond, a native of St. Petersburg, Fla., will get his seventh start for Toronto, which has won three of four.

TV: 1:40 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), SunSports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Todd Redmond (1-1, 3.62 ERA) vs. Rays RH Chris Archer (6-5, 3.10)

Redmond has allowed three or fewer runs in all six of his starts while striking out 36 and walking nine in 29 2/3 innings. The right-hander won his only decision in a starting role after making his first three appearances in 2013 out of the bullpen. Redmond, who made his major-league debut last year with Cincinnati, has 42 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings in his career.

Archer has struggled in his last three starts, allowing 10 runs over 13 2/3 innings while going 0-2. The 24-year-old won his previous four starts, including his first outing against Toronto on July 21 when he yielded one run in seven innings. Josh Thole recorded an RBI double in that contest against Archer, who has held opponents to a .218 batting average overall.

WALK-OFFS

1. Toronto RF Jose Bautista has registered 14 RBIs against Tampa Bay, the most against any team this season.

2. Tampa Bay SS Yunel Escobar has only five errors in 113 games and leads all active players at the position in the AL with a .989 fielding percentage.

3. Blue Jays 3B Brett Lawrie has at least two hits in five of his last seven games - including the last two - and is 13-for-28 in that span.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Blue Jays 2