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August 18 Gameday: José Soriano makes his third start with Blue Jays in series opener against Rays
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Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Aug 18, 2026, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 18, 2026, 17:26 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays are set to kick off a series in a place that is their version of the house of horrors. 
Three games against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, a stadium that has given the club so much trouble over the years. Back in May, the Rays swept the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field and hold an 8-2 advantage over the Toronto club in the season series. 
Currently sitting 0.5 game out of the American League’s final Wild Card spot with a 61-65 record, the Blue Jays need to reverse their fortunes this week to remain in the hunt to return to playoff baseball for the second consecutive year. 
On Tuesday night in the series opener against the Rays, the Blue Jays will turn to right-hander José Soriano. Soriano will be making his third start in a Blue Jays uniform since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels on August 3. 
The 27-year-old impressed during his most recent outing against the Boston Red Sox on August 12, as the righty turned in a pitching line of 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, with the only damage coming by way of a Willson Contreras solo home run. 
For the season with both the Angels and Blue Jays, Soriano has made 24 starts and is 9-6 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Soriano has struck out 134 batters across his 133.2 innings pitched and has held opponents to a .217 average during that span. 
Taking the mound for the Rays on Tuesday is Nick Martinez. The 2026 All-Star has put together a strong season with the Rays after signing a one-year, $13-million contract with the club in February. 
Through 23 starts this year, Martinez is 12-3 with a 2.74 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. While Martinez doesn’t strike out many, highlighted by only 78 across 138 innings, the 36-year-old rarely walks anyone. The right-hander has allowed only 20 free passes, good for a 3.6% walk-rate, placing him in the top one per cent in all of the majors. 
This will be Martinez’s third start against the Blue Jays this season, and it is safe to say he has had their number through the first two meetings. Across both starts, Martinez has worked 11 innings and held the Blue Jays to two runs while picking up victories in both of those outings. 
One Blue Jay who has had Martinez’s number throughout his career is George Springer. Springer is 8-for-19 lifetime off Martinez with two home runs and three RBIs. Two of Springer’s eight hits came during their most recent meeting on July 20, when the 36-year-old recorded two singles. 
Here’s how the lineups look in the series opener: 
Location: Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, Florida 
First Pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN590

Starting Pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays – José Soriano: 9-6 record, 3.16 ERA, 133.2 IP, 134 SO, 62 BB
Tampa Bay Rays – Nick Martinez: 12-3 record, 2.74 ERA, 138 IP, 78 SO, 20 BB

Lineups:

Blue Jays:
  1. Brett Bateman – CF
  2. Nathan Lukes – RF
  3. Alejandro Kirk – C
  4. George Springer – DH
  5. Jesús Sánchez – LF
  6. Kazuma Okamoto – 1B
  7. Andrés Giménez – SS
  8. Ernie Clement – 2B
  9. Josh Smith – 3B
Rays:
  1. Chandler Simpson – LF
  2. Junior Caminero – 3B
  3. Jonathan Aranda – 1B
  4. Yandy Díaz – DH
  5. Liam Hicks – C
  6. Victor Mesa Jr. – RF
  7. Cedric Mullins – CF
  8. Richie Palacios – 2B
  9. Taylor Walls – SS
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