Blue Jays face the Rays with 2-1 series lead

Audio By Carbonatix

Toronto Blue Jays (89-63, first in the AL East) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (74-78, fourth in the AL East)

Tampa, Florida; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Chris Bassitt (11-8, 3.90 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 163 strikeouts); Rays: Shane Baz (9-12, 5.15 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 169 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Jays -129, Rays +107; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Blue Jays lead 2-1 in a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tampa Bay has a 74-78 record overall and a 39-38 record at home. The Rays have a 49-8 record in games when they scored five or more runs.

Toronto has a 39-38 record in road games and an 89-63 record overall. The Blue Jays have gone 35-16 in games when they did not give up a home run.

Thursday's game is the 10th meeting between these teams this season. The Rays hold a 6-3 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Junior Caminero has 28 doubles and 44 home runs for the Rays. Yandy Diaz is 14 for 37 with a double and two home runs over the last 10 games.

George Springer is third on the Blue Jays with 53 extra base hits (23 doubles, a triple and 29 home runs). Bo Bichette is 9 for 19 with four doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 3-7, .238 batting average, 3.78 ERA, outscored by eight runs

Blue Jays: 7-3, .258 batting average, 2.47 ERA, outscored opponents by 21 runs

INJURIES: Rays: Junior Caminero: day-to-day (back), Taylor Walls: 60-Day IL (groin), Jonny Deluca: 60-Day IL (hamstring), Brian Van Belle: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mason Englert: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Stuart Fairchild: 60-Day IL (oblique), Jonathan Aranda: 10-Day IL (wrist), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (forearm), Hunter Bigge: 60-Day IL (lat), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (tricep), Alex Faedo: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nathan Lavender: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Blue Jays: Bo Bichette: 10-Day IL (knee), Robinson Pina: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Sandlin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yimi Garcia: 60-Day IL (ankle), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.