Toronto @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2011 ) Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 1

THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Rays are running out of time. After another disappointing effort from their offense (three hits, one run) against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, the Rays are 2 ½ games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League wild-card race with five games left. To make matters worse for Tampa Bay, the visiting Jays send red-hot Ricky Romero to the mound in the second of a three-game series Saturday night against the Rays. Tampa Bay is 42-34 at home, but is batting .235 as a team at Tropicana Field – second worst in the American League. Toronto has won 10 of its last 15.

TV: 7:10 p.m. EST; RSN (Toronto), MLB Network.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Jays LH Ricky Romero (15-10, 2.98 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jeff Niemann (11-7, 3.95 ERA).

Romero has only lost one decision since July 16, going 8-1. He has beaten the Rays twice in that stretch and is 3-1 overall this season against Tampa Bay. Romero has allowed more than three runs in a start just once in his last 11 starts. He is 5-3 lifetime against the Rays with a 3.43 ERA over 60 1/3 innings. Johnny Damon is 9-for-20 with three homers against Romero.

Niemann, who was skipped a few days because of upper-back soreness, has won his last two starts. He is 1-1 against Toronto this season, allowing six runs in 10 1/3 innings. Niemann is 4-3 in his career against Toronto with a 5.03 ERA in 62 2/3 innings. Adam Lind is 11-for-26 with two homers and seven RBIs against Niemann, but he remained in Toronto to be with his wife for the birth of their child.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (80-77): Kelly Johnson has hit much better since being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in late August. Johnson, who was hitting .209 in Arizona, raised his average to .268 with a home run and a single Friday. Johnson is 12-for-32 in his last nine games. Eric Thames had an RBI single in the first game of the series and is 10-for-23 the last five games. Slugger Jose Bautista continues to struggle a bit with no home runs and just one RBI in his last nine games. David Cooper replaced Lind at first base. The rookie is 12-for-55 (.218) since being recalled.

ABOUT THE RAYS (86-71): Matt Joyce was the only Rays player to show some spark on offense Friday with two hits and an RBI. Joyce, who has career highs in home runs (18) and RBIs (72), is 8-for-19 with six RBIs in his last six games to raise his average to .280. Evan Longoria was hit by a pitch in the ribs by Brandon Morrow in the third inning, but finished the game and appears to be all right for Saturday’s matchup. The Rays need Longoria to get hot the final five days. He is just 4-for-20 with no homers and one RBI the last six games.

FINAL PITCH: Tampa Bay closer Kyle Farnsworth, who has been out since Sept. 10 with a sore right elbow, is available to pitch in the Toronto series.