Jays Line-up
1. Michael Saunders (L) LF
2. Josh Donaldson ® 3B
3. Jose Bautista ® RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion ® DH
5. Troy Tulowitzki ® SS
6. Justin Smoak (S) 1B
7. Kevin Pillar ® CF
8. Ryan Goins (L) 2B
9. Josh Thole (L) C
On the bump... LHP JA Happ
Happ allowed three runs over seven innings on 92 pitches his last time out against the Athletics. The veteran left-hander is 1-1 with a 6.46 ERA in six starts at Tropicana Field.
Rays Line-up
1. Logan Forsythe ® 2B
2. Brandon Guyer ® RF
3. Evan Longoria ® 3B
4. Steve Pearce ® 1B
5. Steven Souza Jr. ® DH
6. Desmond Jennings ® LF
7. Tim Beckham ® SS
8. Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF
9. Curt Casali ® C
On the bump... RHP Chris Archer
Archer picked up his 1st win Monday vs. the O's, when he allowed no runs in 6 2/3. His secret: Locating his pitches and getting ahead in the count. He’s primarily been known as a fastball-slider pitcher, but he successfully used his changeup Monday.
By Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com | @gregorMLB | April 29th, 2016 + 6 COMMENTS
When Rays right-hander Chris Archer takes the mound at 6:10 p.m. ET on Saturday against the Blue Jays, there won't be any secrets between the clubs.
Archer has faced Toronto more than any other team in his career. He knows what to expect from the Blue Jays' lineup, and they have more than enough on him to build a gameplan around.
The familiarity can be an advantage for either side depending on the day. With a 5-4 record and a 3.28 ERA in 16 career starts against the Blue Jays, Archer has experienced both the good and the bad.
"I've definitely faced the Blue Jays more than any other team in my career, and I've had some pretty decent success minus a start or two here or there," Archer said. "But when you face somebody like 12 times in two years, there's going to be some starts that don't go your way."
Toronto will counter with left-hander J.A. Happ, who is returning to Tropicana Field where he was once struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of Desmond Jennings. Happ has returned before, so this won't be his first outing since that unfortunate event in 2013. He is 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA in his career against the Rays, and he is seeking his fourth straight victory this season.
Three things to know about this game
• Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion have faced Archer more than anyone else, but they haven't enjoyed much success. Bautista is hitting .147 with one homer and five RBIs in 34 at-bats, while Encarnacion is hitting .154 with three homers and eight RBIs in 39 at-bats.
• Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin continues to battle neck spasms, but he hopes to be in the lineup for all three games in St. Petersburg. Martin missed several games earlier this week, but he returned Wednesday and should be good to go despite some lingering soreness.
• Curt Casali will catch Archer on Saturday. Jennings will return to the lineup and Brandon Guyer will start for a second consecutive day.
Record... 3-1 in Tampa!
It's time...
LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*
LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*
LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*