Game 150: Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays — Pregame News and Notes
Updated 4:00 p.m. After losing all three games in the latest series against the top team in the American League, the Rays will look to bounce back and help their wild card chances on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Tampa Bay (82–67) scored just two runs against the 99-win Houston Astros, the first time the Rays have been swept in a series of three games or longer at home since 2019. That said, Tampa Bay still has a magic number nine and a 4.5 game lead over Baltimore with nine games left.
The Rays also still have a half game lead over Seattle, which lost to Oakland again on Wednesday, for the second wild card. Tampa Bay, 8–7 against Toronto, is two games behind the Blue Jays (84–65) after they fell in extra innings at Philadelphia. If the Rays win the series they would be tied for the top spot, and would also have the tiebreak edge over the Blue Jays.
The Rays have made a roster move, selecting INF/OF Miles Mastrobuoni and optioning C Rene Pinto. To create 40-man roster space, RHP Kevin Herget was designated for assignment. Mastrobuoni was hitting .300 with 16 HR and 64 RBI for Durham with an .846 OPS. He had a .914 OPS against right-handed pitching.
JT Chargois (2–0 2.76) will open on Thursday, the third time he’s doing that this season. The righty has had five straight scoreless outings. Against Toronto this year, Chargois has worked 2.1 scoreless innings in two appearances.
Ryan Yarbrough (2–8 4.33) will pitch in bulk on Thursday. Yarbrough gave up a run in three innings his last time out, a 5–1 win over Texas. Yarbrough has given up six runs in 13 innings in the three appearances he’s had against the Blue Jays.
Here’s the Rays lineup for tonight’s game:
Aranda 3B
Margot RF
Franco SS
Arozarena DH
Peralta LF
Mejia C
Siri CF
Choi 1B
Walls 2B
Jose Berrios (11–5 4.99) will get the ball for the Blue Jays. Berrios gave up two runs in six innings his last start against Baltimore, a 6–3 victory. Berrios has faced Tampa Bay twice this year, allowing four runs, three earned in 11.1 innings.
Here’s the Blue Jays lineup for tonight’s game:
Springer CF
Guerrero Jr. 1B
Bichette SS
Kirk DH
Chapman 3B
Hernandez RF
Jansen C
Merrifield LF
Biggio 2B
On the minor league front, Tampa Bay had a second affiliate win a championship on Wednesday in Bowling Green. Here’s what happened in the Rays system:
Durham (80–63) lost to Orioles affiliate Norfolk 13–9. Vidal Brujan had three hits, including a three-run homer.
Montgomery (70–61, 42–27) leads a best of three playoff series against Pensacola 1–0, with game two at Montgomery on Thursday.
Bowling Green (78–52, 37–28) won 4–0 over Aberdeen, to take the best of three championship series 2–1, and win a second straight title and third in four years.
Charleston (88–44, 42–24) captured a second straight title on Tuesday with a 6–2 win over Lynchburg, winning the series 2–0. Mason Auer had a two-run double and Austin Vernon threw 3.1 scoreless innings.
FCL (39–16): season concluded, fell in championship series to Yankees two games to one.
Coverage on the Rays Radio Network begins at 6 p.m. with first pitch at 6:40.
