Toronto @ Tampa Bay preview
Tropicana Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2024 ) Toronto 0, Tampa Bay 1
The Tampa Bay pitching staff will have another chance to show off Saturday afternoon when the Rays host the Toronto Blue Jays in St. Petersburg, Fla.
In the past four games -- three against the Boston Red Sox and the series opener against Toronto -- Rays pitchers have allowed 15 hits and five runs and struck out 44.
The Rays (76-78) used six pitchers to combine for their second straight shutout and 12th overall in Friday's 1-0 win over the Blue Jays (73-81).
Jonathan Aranda provided the only run with a sixth-inning homer off Toronto starter Jose Berrios, and the home side's pitchers made it stand up.
Reliever Kevin Kelly (4-2) earned the win and moved his scoreless-innings streak to 22.
"(Kelly's) got to be taking it in and appreciating what he does," manager Kevin Cash said after his club improved to 7-4 against the Blue Jays this season. "He's commanding the ball at a really high rate."
The Blue Jays had five hits -- all singles -- and produced few scoring opportunities as the two American League East clubs combined to go 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
In what will be his career-high 24th start, right-hander Taj Bradley (6-11, 4.39 ERA) will attempt to get his game back on track and show what he can bring to the rotation in 2025.
The Los Angeles product was the American League's Pitcher of the Month in July by going 3-1 with a 1.45 ERA in five starts but has gone 0-6 with a 7.97 ERA in eight outings since.
"A lot of it is like growing pains," Bradley said on the Rays Radio podcast. "You've got to have them just so you build that scar tissue for the games. I just start to feel numb to them and don't let them affect me like they used to."
Over three starts and two relief outings against Toronto, Bradley is 1-2 with a 5.68 ERA.
On Friday, Toronto saw the debut of center fielder Jonatan Clase, who manned the position in the absence of Daulton Varsho, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Obtained from the Seattle Mariners in late July, Clase, 22, was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, and the speedy player should see a lot of action in the season's final week.
In his debut, the switch hitter went 1-for-2 with a single to right and was hit by a pitch.
After being hit by Tampa Bay's Tyler Alexander in the third inning, he easily swiped second base but overslid the bag. He tried to advance but was easily tagged out near third.
This is Clase's chance to impress. Varsho will have right rotator cuff surgery next week, and his readiness for spring training in Dunedin, Fla., is questionable.
Additionally, shortstop Bo Bichette (fractured middle finger) will see a hand specialist and infielder Will Wagner had knee surgery Thursday.
Kevin Gausman (back tightness) suddenly took himself out of Thursday's game at the Texas Rangers despite having a no-hitter going through five innings, but Blue Jays manager John Schneider anticipates he will be available next week.
"We're going to kind of keep our eye on him every day as we go forward and make sure he's good for his next (start)," Schneider said.
Making his 20th start of the season Saturday, right-hander Yariel Rodriguez (1-6, 4.29 ERA) has no record and a 3.18 ERA against the Rays after allowing two runs on two hits in 5 2/3 innings against them on July 24 in a 6-3 win. He didn't figure into the decision.
--Field Level Media