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July 23 Gameday: Blue Jays look to avoid sweep against Rays

Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

By Aidan Sinclair

Jul 23, 2026, 13:10 EDTUpdated: Jul 23, 2026, 13:56 EDT

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The Toronto Blue Jays are in a free fall.

With every new day, the team seemingly finds a new way to lose a baseball game. The first three games of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays perfectly epitomize their unfathomable struggles displayed in 2026. Last night it was a 4-2 loss, their fourth straight, bringing the team closer and closer to being a seller at the trade deadline with each passing day.

The Jays picked up a run in the first inning thanks to a George Springer RBI groundout, but were unable to manage any offence until the seventh, when Alejandro Kirk hit a solo home run. The team finished with just four hits on the night, now having scored just six runs in their last 45 innings played. It was a bullpen day for the pitching staff as Braydon Fisher opened the game, tossing 1.1 innings and allowing the only earned run of the night, with Spencer Miles working the bulk innings, throwing 3.2 scoreless innings and lowering his season ERA to 3.33.

Jeff Hoffman surrendered three runs through 0.2 innings of work, all unearned, with Tyler Rogers, Brendon Little, and Louis Varland all working clean innings at the back end.

The Jays’ record now sits at an even 10 games under .500 at 46-56, good for last in the American League East, 6.5 games back of the last Wild Card spot, with six teams ahead of them to even get into the Wild Card picture. With no signs of life offensively and having created such a gap in the standings given their poor play recently, the team is making it extremely difficult for the front office to consider buying come August 3.

Shane Bieber gets the ball for his sixth start of the season, coming off his best to date against the White Sox last weekend, throwing six scoreless innings with six strikeouts, en route to a win. Bieber is one of many players on expiring contracts, and should the team decide to sell at the trade deadline, he would certainly be a top candidate to part with. The team can only hope that with a couple of strong showings over his next few outings, he could increase his trade value for a heightened return.

On the other hand, Casey Legumina takes the ball for the Rays. Legumina will work as an opener ahead of bulk reliever Ian Seymour. Seymour has been by far the Rays’ weakest link in their rotation this season, appearing in 34 games and starting seven, pitching to a 4.79 ERA across 67.2 innings thus far.

The Blue Jays’ lineup features eight right-handed hitters with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. batting second, Ernie Clement batting third, George Springer batting cleanup, Kazuma Okamoto batting sixth, Luis Urías batting eighth and Myles Straw batting ninth. Yohendrick Pinango is the only lefty in the lineup, batting leadoff.

Davis Schneider was called up prior to today’s contest and will fill in at the seventh spot in the lineup, with Alejandro Kirk catching Bieber’s sixth start of the campaign.

Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada

First Pitch: 3:07 PM EST

Watch/Listen: Sportsnet One, SN590