Rays host the Blue Jays to open 3-game series

Updated Aug. 18, 2026 4:02 a.m. ET
Associated Press

Toronto Blue Jays (61-65, fifth in the AL East) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (75-49, first in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Jose Soriano (9-6, 3.23 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 134 strikeouts); Rays: Nick Martinez (12-3, 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 78 strikeouts)

LINE: Rays -144, Blue Jays +121; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays open a three-game series at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay is 75-49 overall and 42-21 at home. The Rays have a 46-10 record in games when they scored five or more runs.

Toronto is 28-32 in road games and 61-65 overall. The Blue Jays have the seventh-ranked team ERA in the AL at 3.96.

The teams meet Tuesday for the 11th time this season. The Rays lead the season series 8-2.

TOP PERFORMERS: Chandler Simpson has a .309 batting average to lead the Rays, and has 13 doubles and six triples. Yandy Diaz is 16 for 46 with three home runs and six RBIs over the past 10 games.

Ernie Clement leads the Blue Jays with a .281 batting average, and has 28 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 17 walks and 43 RBIs. Alejandro Kirk is 13 for 31 with a home run and seven RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 7-3, .291 batting average, 4.25 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 runs

Blue Jays: 7-3, .251 batting average, 3.03 ERA, outscored opponents by four runs

INJURIES: Rays: Victor Mesa Jr.: day-to-day (hamstring), Cole Sulser: 15-Day IL (back), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Edwin Uceta: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Gavin Lux: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jon Heasley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Griffin Jax: 15-Day IL (elbow), Ben Williamson: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jake Fraley: 60-Day IL (groin), Ryan Pepiot: 60-Day IL (hip)

Blue Jays: Luis Urias: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 7-Day IL (head), Jose Berrios: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jake Bloss: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jameson Taillon: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jonatan Clase: 10-Day IL (foot), Spencer Arrighetti: 15-Day IL (foot), Lenyn Sosa: 60-Day IL (wrist), Trey Yesavage: 15-Day IL (knee), Patrick Corbin: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cody Ponce: 60-Day IL (knee), Joe Mantiply: 60-Day IL (knee), Yimi Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Addison Barger: 60-Day IL (elbow), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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

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