The visiting Tampa Bay Rays will shoot for their second series win over the Toronto Blue Jays in a week on Tuesday night.
The Rays took the opener of the three-game series 8-5 on Monday night despite the first career two-homer game and a career-best five RBIs by Toronto’s Andres Gimenez. Tampa Bay swept a three-game series May 4-6 against Toronto in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Rays, who lead the American League East, are 19-3 against AL teams, 9-1 in the division and have the second-best record in the majors behind the Atlanta Braves.
“We’ve had a lot of fun on the baseball field,” Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan said. “Obviously, playoffs are the goal. We are a quarter of the way through the season. We’re not worried about that. We’re worried about today and tomorrow, and you focus on that stuff and it’ll all take care of itself.”
McClanahan (4-2, 2.60 ERA) is scheduled to start on Tuesday. He is 5-2 with a 2.16 ERA in nine career starts against Toronto, including a win on Wednesday, when he pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
Left-hander Patrick Corbin (1-1, 3.60) is scheduled to start for Toronto. He took the loss on Wednesday when he allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings. He is 0-3 with a 6.04 ERA in four career starts against the Rays.
Tampa Bay got a solo homer and three RBIs from Jonathan Aranda on Monday, while Richie Palacios contributed three hits and three RBIs. Chandler Simpson also was a highlight with his speed. He had three infield hits, three runs and two stolen bases, including a steal of third that forced a throwing error, allowing him to score.
He left the game after hobbling on a groundout in the eighth.
“I think it might have just been a cramp more than anything,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “Right now his strength is really good. He likely was going to be off (Tuesday) just given that Corbin is slated to go for them and we’ll just go from there. From all the reports, it sounds really good.”
Simpson bats left-handed.
Toronto had a busy day of transactions on Monday. Outfielder Addison Barger, who returned Saturday from a sprained ankle, went back on the injured list Monday after being scratched Sunday due to an inflamed right elbow. He received a cortisone shot on Monday.
“Hopefully it’s a short stint,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “It (stinks), one game back and back on the IL.”
Barger made a strong throw from right field to get an out at home on Saturday.
“I don’t think it was the one throw from right field,” Schneider said. “I think it was kind of just nagging on him, and he woke up feeling worse than what he thought.”
Outfielder Yohendrick Pinango was called up from Triple-A Buffalo, and he went 0-for-3 with a walk on Monday.
Right-hander Yariel Rodriguez also was promoted from Buffalo, and he pitched around a walk in a scoreless ninth inning. He filled the spot vacated when left-hander Eric Lauer was designated for assignment.
Lauer allowed six runs in five innings on Sunday and was 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA on the year after going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA last season.
“Tough conversation because of what he did last year,” Schneider said. “I know it was kind of back and forth with him this year, bullpen and starting. It just felt like we needed to go in a different direction.”
–Field Level Media
