Rays face the Blue Jays leading series 1-0

Updated Jul. 24, 2024 4:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Tampa Bay Rays (51-50, fourth in the AL East) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (45-55, fifth in the AL East)

Toronto; Wednesday, 7:07 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Zach Eflin (5-7, 4.14 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 83 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Yariel Rodriguez (1-3, 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 36 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Rays -116, Blue Jays -104; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays bring a 1-0 lead into the next game of the series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto has a 45-55 record overall and a 22-27 record at home. The Blue Jays have a 14-7 record in games when they did not give up a home run.

Tampa Bay is 24-23 in road games and 51-50 overall. Rays hitters are batting a collective .234, which ranks 10th in the AL.

Wednesday's game is the ninth time these teams match up this season. The Rays are up 5-3 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads Toronto with 17 home runs while slugging .479. George Springer is 12-for-42 with three home runs and nine RBI over the past 10 games.

Isaac Paredes leads the Rays with 35 extra base hits (18 doubles, a triple and 16 home runs). Randy Arozarena is 10-for-37 with two doubles, four home runs and six RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 4-6, .251 batting average, 5.77 ERA, outscored by 12 runs

Rays: 6-4, .227 batting average, 2.97 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

INJURIES: Blue Jays: Bo Bichette: 10-Day IL (calf), Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 10-Day IL (knee), Jordan Romano: 15-Day IL (elbow), Alek Manoah: 15-Day IL (elbow)

Rays: Ryan Pepiot: 15-Day IL (knee), Richard Lovelady: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jacob Waguespack: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jeffrey Springs: 60-Day IL (elbow), Drew Rasmussen: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (forearm)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.