Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 1

The Tampa Bay Rays' playoff hopes may be slim, but they've kicked off the final month of the season in strong fashion. Tampa Bay aims for its fourth consecutive victory to start September when it visits the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series.

The Rays rolled to a 7-1 triumph in Monday's series opener, improving to 4-2 on their eight-game road trip and remaining eight games behind Oakland for the second wild-card spot in the American League. Kevin Kiermaier finished a homer shy of the cycle and drove in a run while Ji-Man Choi went deep for Tampa Bay, which has won 12 of its last 14 contests. Toronto managed only four singles on Monday as it began a seven-game homestand with its sixth loss in eight games. Teoscar Hernandez plated the lone run for the Blue Jays, who have dropped two straight at home following a six-game winning streak at Rogers Centre.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Ryne Stanek (2-3, 2.72 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (3-3, 4.52)

Stanek will make his 24th start of the season and second in two nights as Tampa Bay continues its method of using a reliever to open a contest. The 27-year-old native of St. Louis worked one perfect inning in the series opener on Monday, fanning one batter while throwing 11 of his 16 pitches for strikes. Opponents are batting just .185 this season against Stanek, who has worked four scoreless frames versus Toronto this season.

Borucki has been hit hard of late, surrendering four or more runs in four of his last five starts - including a no-decision at Baltimore on Wednesday in which he was tagged for five runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old rookie from Illinois has won three of his last four decisions, with two of the victories coming at home. Borucki, who has yet to face Tampa Bay in his career, has posted a 2.59 ERA at Rogers Centre as opposed to a 6.40 mark on the road.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays INF Joey Wendle is riding a nine-game hitting streak during which he has gone 17-for-40 with seven multi-hit performances.

2. Tampa Bay purchased the contract of Nick Ciuffo from Triple-A Durham, placed fellow C Adam Moore on the restricted list and activated OF Mallex Smith (virus) from the 10-day disabled list.

3. Toronto added Mark Leiter Jr., who was claimed off waivers from Philadelphia on Saturday, to the active roster, activated fellow RHP Marcus Stroman (finger) - who yielded four runs over 1 2/3 innings in the series opener - from the 10-day DL and sent OF Dwight Smith Jr. outright to Triple-A Buffalo.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Blue Jays 3