Toronto Blue Jays probable pitchers & starting lineups vs. Tampa Bay Rays, May 14

Tuesday's series opener between the Blue Jays featured some good and bad for Toronto.

The good came in the batter's box, as Blue Jays hitters tallied nine extra-base hits. The bad came on the pitcher's mound, as the Blue Jays blew a ninth inning lead in devastating fashion on a Junior Caminero grand slam.

They'll look to rebound from that and jump back up to .500 when they take on the Rays in the second game of a three-game series against their American League East rivals.

Chris Bassitt will get the ball for the Blue Jays and will go against Rays starter Ryan Pepiot. First pitch for today's game is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. EDT, and will be available to stream on Sportsnet.

Toronto Blue Jays probable pitchers & starting lineups vs. Tampa Bay Rays, May 14

Probable starting pitchers

Chris Bassitt (3-2, 3.35 ERA, 49 K) vs. Ryan Pepiot (2-4, 3.86 ERA, 38 K)

Bassitt gets the ball after allowing a season-high five runs (four earned) against the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend. After having a 0.77 ERA over his first four starts, Bassitt's allowed at least three runs in each of his last four starts. He has a 6.04 ERA in 22 1/3 innings across that span.

He has a 3.65 ERA in 44 1/3 career innings against the Rays, and allowed three runs in five innings in his most recent start against the Rays, which came last July.

He'll be facing off against a lineup that features some players who have some success against him in their careers. Brandon Lowe's hit three home runs in 11 career at-bats against Bassitt, while Curtis Mead has also tagged him for a longball.

Pepiot making his ninth start of the year in his second season with Tampa Bay after he came over in the Tyler Glasnow trade.

He's coming off his best start of the year where he allowed one run over six innings in a loss against the Philadelphia Phillies. While he's only tallied seven strikeouts over his last three starts combined, he has a 2.20 ERA over that three-start span, so it's clear that he's getting runners out without relying on the strikeout.

This will be Pepiot's first career start against the Blue Jays. Varsho (0-for-4) and Anthony Santander (1-for-6) are the only Blue Jays hitters who have faced off against Pepiot before.

Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup, May 14

• 1. SS Bo Bichette
• 2. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• 3. DH Anthony Santander
• 4. RF George Springer
• 5. CF Daulton Varsho
• 6. C Alejandro Kirk
• 7. 3B Addison Barger
• 8. 2B Ernie Clement
• 9. LF Jonatan Clase

Kirk's back in the lineup after missing Monday's game with a head contusion, and his presence in the lineup is a great sign. He's beginning to heat up at the plate, and having him the No. 5 spot in the lineup gives the Blue Jays a bit more teeth.

Barger had a hot road trip prior to going 0-for-4 on Monday, so it's good to see him in the lineup. Clement's at second base in place of Andrés Giménez, while Clase gets the start in the revolving door that's becoming left field.