Game Preview
The mood inside the Tampa Bay Rays’ clubhouse after Manuel Margot’s two-out, walk-off single capped a Thursday afternoon drama against the Los Angeles Angels emphasized the significance of victories with eight games left in the regular season.
To build off of that thrilling 5-4 victory, Tampa Bay will open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Rays, who entered Thursday’s rubber game of a three-game set on a two-game losing streak, came back to beat the Dodgers and get within 1 1/2 games of the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles.
Margot battled off a pitch on his hands, shattered the bat he had been using since before putting on the injured list on August 15th, and scored Yandy Diaz for a victory that could be circled when the club looks back on 2023. Isaac Paredes had led off the game with an RBI single into left field.
With the hot Blue Jays coming to town, the Rays’ 10th walk-off win of the season was exactly what was needed.
Friday’s starting pitcher for the Rays will be right-hander Tyler Glasnow. In eight career starts versus the Blue Jays, he is 0-3 with a 6.88 ERA. Glasnow is 2-2 with a 5.48 ERA in four September starts. On Saturday he lost to Baltimore after allowing six runs on eight hits in four innings.
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole shut down the Blue Jays on Thursday, allowing just one run over eight innings of a 5-3 loss that ended Toronto’s six-game winning streak. Before Alejandro Kirk’s double, Cole had a perfect 5-0-1 record.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a Toronto slugger, pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth inning and knocked in a run by way of a fielder’s choice. After an MRI showed no structural damage, he is categorized as day-to-day with right knee inflammation.
Chris Bassitt will start for Toronto in game one of the series. On Saturday, he faced the Boston Red Sox and allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings. Despite his impressive showing, he was only awarded a draw.
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Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Game Information
- Date: 09/22/2023
- Time: 06:40 PM ET
- Location: Tropicana Field.
- How to Watch Blue Jays vs Rays: MLB.TV
- Live Stream: MLB.TV
