Series Preview: Blue Jays Looking to Lock Down AL East vs Rays

Sep 24, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe (L) and center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (R) celebrate a victory against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Across the Diamond: Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays definitely took a step back this season following the loss of Joe Maddon to the Chicago Cubs, who have been one of the best teams in the majors all season long. Their pitching has held up with the 2nd best team ERA in the American League.

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Brad Boxberger has recorded 38 saves, Chris Archer has become the defacto ace of the staff with 246 srtikeouts in 203.1 innings and he is only going to get better. Jake Odorizzi (3.38 ERA) and Drew Smyly (3.26 ERA)  have been fantastic and give the Rays 3 solid starters going into next season.

The offense? Well, they rank 7th in team BA so it is a wonder why the Rays aren’t much better than their record. The Blue Jays better be on their toes because they have a history of not doing so hot against the Rays. Can the Rays play spoiler? You bet they can. I mean, they have J.P. Arencibia right? Right?

Next: Game 1 Preview: Dickey leads it off

Sep 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) acknowledges the crowd after being relieved during the seventh inning in a game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre. The Boston Red Sox won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Jake Odorizzi (8-8, 3.38 ERA) vs R.A. Dickey (10-11, 4.05 ERA)

Odorizzi is another in a long line of home-grown pitchers that the Rays have developed into a great major league starter. He has faltered a bit against the Blue Jays so far this season with a 5.11 ERA but don’t let that fool you. He is someone who could keep the Blue Jays’ bats silent and cause problems in the quest for the division title.

He hasn’t gone more than 6 innings in his last three starts so it is possible he is running out of gas as the season winds down. He is closing in on his career high in innings pitched set last year but his peripherals are much better this season than 2014 (1.28 WHIP in 2014, 1.14 WHIP in 2015). One thing to temper enthusiasm is that his strikeout numbers are way down from last season so he has been more hittable. Let’s hope that flows into tonight’s game.

R.A. Dickey has been a solid mid-rotation type. His ERA doesn’t reflect how well his season is really going lately. His ERA on turf and at home is noticeably better, by almost 2 runs a game. Under the dome his knuckler can dance and is much more effective than when the breeze flows through when the roof is open. Regardless of the gorgeous evening, expect the dome to be closed to help Dickey get by the pesky Rays. His ERA is 2.83 in September and 2.98 since the all-star break. He is on his game and should provide a great matchup vs Odorizzi.

Next: Game 2 Preview: THE pitching matchup to see

Sep 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price (14) gets ready to throw a pitch seventh inning in a game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Chris Archer (12-12, 2.92 ERA) vs David Price (17-5, 2.34 ERA)

This should be a fascinating game. Perhaps one of the best games of the year. Archer and Price are both definitely Cy Young worthy candidates so it will be interesting to see if this truly turns into a pitchers duel….it should! Archer has held Toronto to a less-than-stellar .122 BAA this season. He has struck out 31 Blue Jays and walked only 5. He is locked in when it comes to the AL East leaders. This was before the Blue Jays took off offensively and with a 4.03 ERA in September so far perhaps this will be the start this season where he is very hittable.

Price goes up against his former team trying to get them back and help his current team take their game to the next level. He seemed wasted in Detroit but has found new glory as the leader of this Jays pitching staff.

In the one start he had against the Rays this year he gave up 5 earned runs and he was hit at a .292 clip. This seems worlds away from his Blue Jays numbers where he has given up more than 3 earned runs in a game only.. never! In 4 September starts his ERA is 1.38. He is well on his way to another Cy Young season and with the way he has boosted the Blue Jays rotation he should garner quite a few votes.

Next: Game 3 Preview: Buehrle shuts it down

Sep 20, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mark Buehrle (56) throws against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre. Boston defeated Toronto 4-3. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: Matt Andriese (3-5, 4.37 ERA) vs Mark Buehrle (14-7, 3.69 ERA)

Andriese is a 2011 draftee by the Padres who now toils in the Rays rotation. He has been OK thus far but not great. His strikeout total sits at 44 in almost 60 innings and teams are belting him to a tune of .275. This is a pretty good time to audition for a role in next year’s rotation and get some innings under his belt. Doing that against the jugernaut offense of the Blue Jays seems like a tall order but the Blue Jays sometimes play down to theit pitching opponent…sometimes. Let’s see how Andriese handles the atmosphere and hoopla at Rogers Centre.

Buehrle has been so maddeningly consistent his whole career. Since he has had a cortisone shot in his tired shoulder and his starts keeping getting pushed back he may not reach the 200 inning mark for the first time in his career (he is at 185.1 innings so far with 2 starts left and perhaps some innings from the bullpen at the end of the season to get him there. If his shoulder keeps barking and he can’t handle going around 7 innings in these last few starts then you may see Buehrle left out of the post-season rotation. Can you say left-handed specialist? I knew ya could.

Next: Players to watch and series prediction!

Sep 22, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marco Estrada (25) before game against New York Yankees in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Player to Watch this Week

The entire starting rotation. There are battles for positions to be won in these final 10 games and really the only lock down starters for the Blue Jays are David Price and most likely R.A. Dickey. Marco Estrada, Mark Buehrle and Marcus Stroman are going to fight hard. Estrada may fall behind or benefit without even throwing a pitch against the Rays. This will be fun to watch.

Predictions for this series

3 of 3. If this is truly the magical season to finaly end the 22 year drought then sweeping the Rays would go a long way to helping that magic. We have a couple pitching duels and a possible game of offensive explosions. If the bullpen can right itself it will give the Blue Jays a decided advantage. I am thinking it will be enough.

Next: What's Next for Liam Hendriks?

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• Blue Jays: Snapping cold streaks at the right time
• Who Should the Blue Jays Extend First: Guerrero, Bichette or Manoah?
• Blue Jays now hold the top Wild Card spot, and yes that’s a good thing
• Blue Jays may have the tools to use a Bullpen Day