<p>The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> lost some ground on Wednesday.</p>
<p></p>
<p>In the third of four games against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Blue Jays <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-toronto-blue-jays-bats-cold-2-1-defeat-rays">ultimately fell 2-1 on Wednesday</a>, as Alejandro Kirk was robbed of a three-run home run and Ernie Clement hit a ground-rule double. Additionally, both the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees won, giving the Blue Jays a four-game lead (<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/5-teams-blue-jays-hold-tiebreaker-over-and-why-they-matter">with the tiebreaker</a>) in the American League East division.</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The good news is that the Blue Jays are right back at it with an afternoon game against the Rays. A win (and a Cleveland Guardians loss) will give them a chance to clinch a postseason berth on Friday, while also bringing their magic number to win the AL East down to five wins. The Yankees take on the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox host the Athletics, and the Guardians face the Detroit Tigers once again.</p>
<p>Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon. Since the beginning of August, Bassitt has a 2.93 ERA and 3.94 FIP in 43 innings pitched, and an even better 2.30 ERA and 2.57 in 27.1 innings pitched over his last five starts. Last time out, Bassitt pitched five innings, striking out six and allowing one earned run.</p>
<p>Opposite to Bassitt is Shane Baz. Once a top prospect, injuries have derailed the 26-year-old&#8217;s career, and he enters Thursday&#8217;s game with a 5.15 ERA and 4.46 FIP in 157.1 innings pitched.</p>
<p>With Baz being a right-handed pitcher, the Blue Jays have several left-handed batters in the lineup. Nathan Lukes returns to the two-hole, Daulton Varsho returns after a two-game absence and bats six, and Andrés Giménez bats eighth. Addison Barger is batting cleanup after being in the lineup on Wednesday&#8217;s game.</p>
<p><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/where-george-springer-stand-2025-al-mvp-race">George Springer</a> leads off again, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bats third. Davis Schneider makes his eighth consecutive start and is slashing .294/.409/.471 with a home run in 22 plate appearances over the last week. Ernie Clement bats seventh, and thanks to Thursday&#8217;s game being a day game, Tyler Heineman is catching and bats ninth.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s set up Thursday&#8217;s series finale!</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Location: Tampa Bay</strong></p>
<p><strong>First Pitch: 1:10 PM ET</strong></p>
<p><strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN 590</strong></p>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays &#8211; Chris Bassitt:</strong> 11-8 record, 3.90 ERA, 166 IP, 163 SO, 50 BB</p>
<p><strong>Tampa Bay Rays &#8211; Shane Baz:</strong> 9-12 record, 5.15 ERA, 157.1 IP, 169 SO, 60 BB</p>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<p><strong>Blue Jays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>George Springer &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Nathan Lukes &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Addison Barger &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Davis Schneider &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Daulton Varsho &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Ernie Clement &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Andrés Giménez &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Tyler Heineman &#8211; C</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Rays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Chandler Simpson &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Brandon Lowe &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Yandy Díaz &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Josh Lowe &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Jake Mangum &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Tristian Gray &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Hunter Feduccia &#8211; C</li>
<li>Carson Williams &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Bob Seymour &#8211; 1B</li>
</ol>
<hr />
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i></p>
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The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> lost some ground on Wednesday.



In the third of four games against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Blue Jays <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-toronto-blue-jays-bats-cold-2-1-defeat-rays">ultimately fell 2-1 on Wednesday</a>, as Alejandro Kirk was robbed of a three-run home run and Ernie Clement hit a ground-rule double. Additionally, both the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees won, giving the Blue Jays a four-game lead (<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/5-teams-blue-jays-hold-tiebreaker-over-and-why-they-matter">with the tiebreaker</a>) in the American League East division.
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&nbsp;

The good news is that the Blue Jays are right back at it with an afternoon game against the Rays. A win (and a Cleveland Guardians loss) will give them a chance to clinch a postseason berth on Friday, while also bringing their magic number to win the AL East down to five wins. The Yankees take on the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox host the Athletics, and the Guardians face the Detroit Tigers once again.

Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon. Since the beginning of August, Bassitt has a 2.93 ERA and 3.94 FIP in 43 innings pitched, and an even better 2.30 ERA and 2.57 in 27.1 innings pitched over his last five starts. Last time out, Bassitt pitched five innings, striking out six and allowing one earned run.

Opposite to Bassitt is Shane Baz. Once a top prospect, injuries have derailed the 26-year-old's career, and he enters Thursday's game with a 5.15 ERA and 4.46 FIP in 157.1 innings pitched.

With Baz being a right-handed pitcher, the Blue Jays have several left-handed batters in the lineup. Nathan Lukes returns to the two-hole, Daulton Varsho returns after a two-game absence and bats six, and Andrés Giménez bats eighth. Addison Barger is batting cleanup after being in the lineup on Wednesday's game.

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/where-george-springer-stand-2025-al-mvp-race">George Springer</a> leads off again, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bats third. Davis Schneider makes his eighth consecutive start and is slashing .294/.409/.471 with a home run in 22 plate appearances over the last week. Ernie Clement bats seventh, and thanks to Thursday's game being a day game, Tyler Heineman is catching and bats ninth.

Let's set up Thursday's series finale!

<hr />

<strong>Location: Tampa Bay</strong>

<strong>First Pitch: 1:10 PM ET</strong>

<strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN 590</strong>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<strong>Toronto Blue Jays - Chris Bassitt:</strong> 11-8 record, 3.90 ERA, 166 IP, 163 SO, 50 BB

<strong>Tampa Bay Rays - Shane Baz:</strong> 9-12 record, 5.15 ERA, 157.1 IP, 169 SO, 60 BB
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<strong>Blue Jays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>George Springer - DH</li>
 	<li>Nathan Lukes - RF</li>
 	<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B</li>
 	<li>Addison Barger - 3B</li>
 	<li>Davis Schneider - LF</li>
 	<li>Daulton Varsho - CF</li>
 	<li>Ernie Clement - 2B</li>
 	<li>Andrés Giménez - SS</li>
 	<li>Tyler Heineman - C</li>
</ol>
<strong>Rays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Chandler Simpson - CF</li>
 	<li>Brandon Lowe - 2B</li>
 	<li>Yandy Díaz - DH</li>
 	<li>Josh Lowe - RF</li>
 	<li>Jake Mangum - LF</li>
 	<li>Tristian Gray - 3B</li>
 	<li>Hunter Feduccia - C</li>
 	<li>Carson Williams - SS</li>
 	<li>Bob Seymour - 1B</li>
</ol>

<hr />

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i>

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