Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2019 ) Toronto 3, Tampa Bay 8

The Tampa Bay Rays control their own playoff destiny as they finish the regular season with a three-game set against the Blue Jays beginning Friday in Toronto. Tampa Bay, which completed its home schedule by taking five of six from Boston and the New York Yankees, holds a two-game lead on Cleveland for the final American League wild card berth and is one game behind Oakland for the top spot.

"The goal now is to get in,’’ Rays infielder Joey Wendle told reporters. "And once we get in, I like our chances against anybody. I don’t think anybody particularly wants to be playing us right now. ..." Tampa Bay is 12-4 versus Toronto this season and seems to have an easier postseason path than the Indians, who play this weekend at Washington with the playoff-bound Nationals competing to host the National League wild card game. The Blue Jays (65-94) have won three straight home series after taking two of three from Baltimore this week and are putting the final touches on a season that will see them lead the majors in rookie games played. Tampa Bay's Tyler Glasnow on Friday makes his fourth start since missing nearly four months with a right forearm strain and opposes rookie T.J. Zeuch, who faces the Rays for the first time.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Tyler Glasnow (6-1, 1.92 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH T.J. Zeuch (1-1, 4.58)

Glasnow allowed two hits and struck out seven in three shutout innings of Tampa Bay's 5-4 victory over Boston on Saturday. The 26-year-old Californian has yielded two runs over eight innings in the last three starts, averaging 48 pitches in those outings. Toronto's Rowdy Tellez hit two home runs in a 3-2 victory over Baltimore on Wednesday and is 3-for-7 with two homers against Glasnow, who is 0-2 with a 7.58 ERA in five starts against the Blue Jays.

Zeuch, the 21st overall pick in the 2016 draft, suffered his first career loss after permitting two runs and four hits with six strikeouts over four innings of a 7-2 road setback against the New York Yankees on Saturday in his second start. “You know what was music to my ears?” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo asked reporters. “I asked (catcher Luke) Maile how T.J. was, the first time he catches him, and he said, ‘Man, his ball’s got good sink and his ball’s got good movement.’ That was music to my ears.” Zeuch, a 24-year-old Ohio native, has faced the Yankees twice, Boston and Atlanta to begin his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay 1B Ji-Man Choi is day-to-day after leaving Wednesday's game in the eighth inning when he fouled a pitch off his left foot. "X-rays were negative, so that’s good,” Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters. “But I would imagine he will be pretty sore.”

2. Toronto 2B Cavan Biggio has a 26-game on-base streak - the longest by a Blue Jay this season.

3. Rays OF Austin Meadows (team highs of .293 batting average, 32 home runs, 88 RBIs) has recorded a hit in 21 of 22 September games and is hitting .402 with eight HRs, 19 RBIs and 23 runs scored this month.

PREDICTION: Rays 3, Blue Jays 2