The Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays continue their critical five-game series in Toronto on Tuesday with a day/night doubleheader. The two teams continue to jockey for position both in the American League East and in the American League wildcard standings. Both teams are also still very much in the hunt for the American League East division title. On the mound in Tuesday's opening game will be lefty Jeffrey Springs (7-4, 2.54) of the Rays taking on right-hander Alek Manoah (14-7, 2.42). First pitch is scheduled for 1:07pm EST.
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With a chance to close the gap significantly between themselves and the Yankees, Tampa Bay fell flat this weekend as they dropped the final two games of the series after taking the opener on Friday night. With their season series over with the Yankees this season, the Rays will now need a lot of help to catch the Bombers. One team that could stand in Tampa's way is the Toronto Blue Jays. They have just a 1/2 game lead over the Blue Jays as this series kicks off. On Monday night, the Rays looked to have things well in hand, leading 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th with closer Jason Adam on the hill. Unfortunately, Adam surrendered a two-run blast and the Rays lost the opener of what should be a very exciting series, 3-2.
Final pic.twitter.com/id0ap5x4Pk
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 11, 2022
After a stretch of 15 games with dominant pitching, the Rays staff cooled off over the weekend as they allowed ten runs in each of the last two games in New York. Tampa now must navigate a five-game series with Toronto in just four days while still playing without ace Shane McClanahan, who is recovering from shoulder fatigue. The Rays are hopeful that McClanahan can come off the IL in time to pitch against Toronto on Thursday. In Tuesday's day portion of the doubleheader, lefty Jeffrey Spring will get the call. Springs is 3-1 with a 2.49 ERA in his last five starts. In those five starts, he has averaged 9.95 K/9. He's made one start against the Blue Jays this season and went 4.2 innings and allowed 4 hits and no runs.