Tuesday MLB: Tampa Bay Rays (43-35) at Toronto Blue Jays (41-37)
Here come the Tampa Bay Rays, as the reigning AL champions have won six games in a row to climb a season-high eight games over .500 and just five games out of first in the AL East.
The Rays were able to solve Jays ace Roy Halladay on Monday night in a 4-1 victory. These two teams will see a lot of each other the rest of the year, as Tampa Bay faces the Jays in 17 of its remaining 84 games, so beating Toronto’s star was a boost of confidence.
“We’re feeling pretty good right now,” Carl Crawford said. “Hopefully we can keep it up.”
Halladay came in having won his past seven decisions, the longest streak in the majors, but lost for the first time since April 21, against Texas. The Blue Jays have lost three straight.
The Rays have hit 38 homers this month, matching a team record set twice previously. They also hit 38 in August 2005 and August 2008. Tampa Bay also leads the majors in steals, with Crawford getting No. 40 on Monday. Crawford has batted .469 (15 for 32) during an eight-game hitting streak and is one reason why Tampa Bay has hit .304 during a 14-4 stretch.
Tampa Bay has opened as a -129 money line favorite on WagerWeb.com for tonight’s game behind ace Matt Garza (5-5, 3.61). Garza has a great history against Toronto. He was 3-2 against the Jays last season despite a 0.47 ERA. He averaged almost 7 2/3 innings per start and did not allow a home run.
Garza is 3-3 with a 1.99 ERA in six career starts against the Blue Jays; he is 1-2 with a 0.79 ERA in three career starts at Rogers Centre.
Toronto starts Scott Richmond (6-4, 3.68). He has lost just once in his past four appearances and has allowed just three runs in the past 15 innings. He lost his only start against Tampa Bay last year.
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