GDB 51.0: Toronto Blue Jays look to split series with Tampa Bay Rays

Photo credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
May 25, 2023, 08:00 EDTUpdated: May 25, 2023, 12:50 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays will look to close out their series Thursday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays.
While the Jays have outscored the Rays 27-14 in the series, that was in thanks to the game two blowout 20-1 win for Toronto. Otherwise, they’ve struggled to find their way against a Rays team at the top of the division.
Toronto sends Alek Manoah to the mound who will go opposite of Zach Eflin.
First pitch: 1:10 p.m. EST
Weather: None! The Jays are at the Trop.
Toronto Blue Jays: 26-24, 9.5 GB, 2.5 WCGB, +20 DIFF.
Tampa Bay Rays: 36-15, – GB, – WCGB. +111 DIFF.
Moneyline: TOR +147; TBR -175.
Starting pitchers:
TOR: Alek Manoah RHP — 1-4, 5.15 ERA, 6.26 FIP, 1.737 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, -0.5 WAR.
TBR: Zach Elfin RHP — 6-1, 3.45 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.000 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, 0.7 WAR.
Lineups:
Toronto
- B Bichette (R) SS
- D Varsho (L) LF
- V Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
- B Belt (L) DH
- M Chapman (R) 3B
- N Lukes (L) RF
- A Kirk (R) C
- K Kiermaier (L) CF
- C Biggio (L) 2B
Tampa
- J Lowe (L) RF
- W Franco (S) SS
- R Arozarena (R) LF
- B Lowe (L) 2B
- H Ramírez (R) DH
- T Walls (S) 3B
- L Raley (L) 1B
- M Margot (R) CF
- F Mejía (S) C
Need to bide the time until first pitch?
Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about the Jays’ latest series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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