The good news for the Toronto Blue Jays is they play far fewer games against American League East rivals this year because of the new balanced schedule.
The bad news is they’re currently playing a lengthy stretch of divisional games – and it’s not going particularly well.
The ice-cold Blue Jays wrap up 11 consecutive contests against AL East opponents with a four-game series on the road against the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
Toronto is coming off a 1-6 week at home against the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, dropping the Blue Jays into last place — and out of a playoff spot — in the best division in baseball.
The Blue Jays are now 6-11 against the AL East.
What’s more, the Rays are 21-4 at Tropicana Field, the second-best 25-game home record since 1901 behind the 1978 Boston Red Sox (22-3).
Here’s a look at the Blue Jays-Rays series.
Probable Pitchers
Monday, 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Chris Bassitt (5-2, 3.05 ERA) vs. Tampa Bay RHP Trevor Kelley (0-1, 7.40 ERA), Sportsnet ONE
Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (3-4, 4.61 ERA) vs. Tampa Bay RHP Taj Bradley (3-0, 3.54 ERA), Sportsnet ONE
Wednesday, 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT: Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (5-1, 4.08 ERA) vs. Tampa Bay LHP Shane McClanahan (7-0, 2.05 ERA), Sportsnet ONE
Thursday, 1:10 p.m. ET / 10:10 a.m. PT: Toronto RHP Alek Manoah (1-4, 5.15 ERA) vs. Tampa Bay RHP Zach Eflin (6-1, 3.45 ERA), Sportsnet
All games on Sportsnet NOW.
Latest on the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays (25-22) lost all three games against the surging Orioles this weekend at Rogers Centre to fall 8.5 games back of the division-leading Rays and six behind second-place Baltimore.
Toronto was a dismal 8-for-66 (.122) with runners in scoring position over the past six games (the Blue Jays are 23rd in that category in MLB).
The bullpen also hasn’t been good. Closer Jordan Romano gave up a game-tying three-run homer with two out in the eighth on Saturday en route to a 6-5 loss in 10 innings and Yimi Garcia allowed five runs in the 11th inning on Sunday in a painful-to-watch 8-3 loss.
As if that’s not bad enough, the Blue Jays are making mistakes in routine situations.
Whit Merrifield was picked off after a game-tying single in the 10th on Sunday, Cavan Biggio was caught stealing when he slid past second base in the eighth, while manager John Schneider visited the mound in the sixth on Saturday after pitching coach Pete Walker had already done so, forcing the Blue Jays to remove an effective Manoah.
The Blue Jays talked all spring about wanting to play good fundamental baseball. They’re not delivering.
Latest on the Rays
After tying or losing their past three series, the Rays (34-14) took two of three from the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers this weekend in Tampa.
The Rays missed a chance at a sweep with a 6-4 loss on Sunday.
Former Ray Willy Adames hit a solo homer off opener Jalen Beeks and ex-Jay Rowdy Tellez also went deep for Milwaukee.
The Rays are the class of the league despite seeing two starters – Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen – suffer season-ending injuries.
Another starter, Tyler Glasnow, hasn’t started yet this season as he makes his way back from an oblique injury. He’s expected to make his season debut next weekend after a good rehab start on Sunday.
Shutout Streak
Bassitt comes into Monday’s game having not allowed a run in his past 27 innings – the third-longest shutout streak in Blue Jays history.
Dave Stieb had 34 consecutive innings of scoreless ball in 1988-89, while Roger Clemens had 33 in 1998.
Season Series
The Blue Jays took two of three from the visiting Rays in April, snapping Tampa’s season-opening 13-game win streak. Berrios and Kikuchi both had strong outings in wins, while Manoah struggled in a series-ending 8-1 loss.
Cy Guy?
McClanahan, Wednesday’s starter for Tampa, looks to be a strong candidate for the Cy Young.
He is the MLB leader in wins, fourth in ERA and has 68 strikeouts against 25 walks. He’s coming off a 1-0 win over Milwaukee on Friday when he allowed just six hits, struck out seven and walked one in seven innings.
The 2022 All-Star Game starter for the AL, McClanahan held the Jays to one run on four hits in six innings in Tampa’s lone win against Toronto earlier this season.
Leadoff Lift
One positive this weekend for the Blue Jays was the play of leadoff man George Springer.
The outfielder, who got off to a slow start this season and also was felled by a viral infection, had three consecutive two-hit games.
Up Next
The Jays wrap up a week on the road with three games in Minnesota against the AL Central-leading Twins.
— With files from AP
