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. Russell Martin ® C
8. Kevin Pillar ® CF
9. Ryan Goins (L) 2B
On the bump... RHP Aaron Sanchez
Sanchez surrendered a season-high 10 hits and six earned runs in his last outing, an 8-5 loss against the Athletics. He pitched seven innings of one-run ball against the Rays on April 5 and picked up a no-decision.
Rays Line-up
1. Logan Forsythe ® 2B
2. Brad Miller (L) SS
3. Evan Longoria ® 3B
4. Corey Dickerson (L) DH
5. Steven Souza Jr. ® RF
6. Logan Morrison (L) 1B
7. Brandon Guyer ® LF
8. Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF
9. Curt Casali ® C
On the bump... LHP Drew Smyly
Smyly is 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA in six career outings vs. the Jays. His record has disguised how well he’s thrown this season, locating all 4 of his pitches and frequently getting ahead in the count. He is 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 13 outings at The Trop.
By Alykhan Ravjiani / MLB.com | April 27th, 2016 + 28 COMMENTS
The Rays open their fourth consecutive series against American League East opponents on Friday, when they welcome the Blue Jays to town for a three-game set.
Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 3.33 ERA) takes the ball for the Blue Jays, coming off his worst start of the season. Sanchez went 4 1/3 innings and gave up a season-high 10 hits and six earned runs in an 8-5 loss to the Athletics last Friday. The 23-year-old did pitch seven innings of one-run ball against the Rays on April 5 and picked up a no-decision.
Drew Smyly (1-2, 2.51 ERA) gets the start for the Rays, and is coming off back-to-back impressive outings. Smyly has allowed just one run over those two starts, striking out 17 in 15 combined innings. The 26-year-old left-hander threw 6 2/3 innings and gave up five earned runs in a 5-3 loss to Toronto on April 4.
"I'm not shying away from contact," Smyly said. "When I get two strikes in a good count, I make a good pitch and try to get a swing and miss. If not I go back to just throwing it around the zone and putting it into play."
Three things to know about this game
• Smyly is 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 13 appearances, 11 starts, at Tropicana Field, and he is 9-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 28 games against AL East opponents.
• Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is 1-for-11 in his career against Sanchez with a double.
• Josh Donaldson has six hits with two home runs and three RBIs in 11 career at-bats against Smyly.
My Record... 2-1 vs these very Rays on the road.
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*