Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 1, Toronto 2

The Tampa Bay Rays quietly are lingering on the fringe of the wild-card race in the American League after knocking off teams in front of them in the standings. The Rays will try to keep that momentum going when they visit a team below them - the Toronto Blue Jays - on Monday for the opener of their three-game series.

Tampa Bay sits eight games behind Oakland for the second AL wild card after winning 11 of their last 13 contests, a stretch that includes series wins over division leaders Boston and Cleveland. The Rays began their current road trip by splitting a two-game series at National League East-leading Atlanta before taking two of three from the Indians behind a pitching staff that has surrendered three runs or fewer in 10 of the team's last 13 contests. The Blue Jays concluded their trek by winning two of three at Miami and got a glimpse of the future when rookie Sean Reid-Foley registered 10 strikeouts over seven innings in Sunday's 6-1 triumph. Toronto will try to coax a similar effort out of Marcus Stroman, who will be facing Tampa Bay for the second time in three starts.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays TBA vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (4-8, 5.27 ERA)

Tampa Bay set the major-league record for innings by relievers on Saturday and are expected to continue a trend of beginning the game with an "opener" out of the bullpen. The Rays have started 16 different pitchers, with Ryne Stanek's 22 turns the most from a traditional reliever. Stanek, who is 2-3 with a 2.77 ERA, could get the nod again on Monday after last throwing one inning of relief on Friday at Cleveland.

Stroman (blisters) is expected to come off the disabled list and make the start after getting through a bullpen session without any issues on Saturday. The Duke product last worked in New York on Aug. 16, when he was ripped by the Yankees for five runs on six hits and a pair of walks over four innings but escaped with a no-decision. Stroman faced Tampa Bay in his previous outing on Aug. 12 and again did not receive a decision despite allowing one run and five hits in five frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays OF Teoscar Hernandez snapped his 17-game home-run drought with a three-run blast on Sunday.

2. Tampa Bay SS Brandon Lowe has gone 12-for-24 with three homers in his last nine contests.

3. Toronto C Luke Maile doubled three times on Sunday, matching the total from his previous 23 games.

PREDICTION: Rays 8, Blue Jays 2