Joey Wendle drove in an important RBI in last night’s 4-1 win against the Blue Jays. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After defeating Toronto on Tuesday night, by a 4-1 margin, the Tampa Bay Rays (31-35) look to sweep the Jays this afternoon at Tropicana Field. The Rays have not swept Toronto since 2016 (May 16-18) at the Rogers Center. With the win, Tampa Bay is 20-9 against teams with a sub .500 record this season.

Rookie phenoms, SS Willy Adames and 1B Jake Bauers, did their part on the field and at the plate last night. Adames made a spinning 360-degree play on a grounder in the seventh, then Bauers followed with a dazzling diving stop.

Together they went 3-7 at the plate with a run and a walk.

Tampa Bay used six relievers yesterday to hold Toronto to just five hits. Leading the charge was Ryne Stanek, who tossed two perfect frames. The right-hander came out throwing gas, and appears to be getting acclimated in the opener’s role.

The New What Next

Piggybacking on what I said above, the Rays are also expected to use the ‘pen today with Wilmer Font (0-3, 9.59 ERA) getting the start as the opener. Font has performed well with Tampa Bay, pitching to a 3.24 ERA over five appearances. In his last outing, Font retired the first six batters he faced, then allowing a walk and a pair of singles, before ending the inning with a punch out. Eventually he was charged with two runs.

Matt Andriese (1-3, 3.58 ERA) is expected to pitch the bulk of the innings, although Vidal Nuno is available to provide length too. They’ll be opposed by left-hander JA Happ (8-3, 3.71)

Matt Andriese allowed two earned runs on five hits, a walk and an HBP over 2-1/3 innings of a loss to Seattle on Friday. He struck out two. Andriese stayed away from the long ball, although he struggled overall through 48 pitches. The two runs he allowed came on soft contact — a Guillermo Heredia fielder’s choice and a Mitch Haniger single — but, the fact remains that Andriese has already allowed three earned runs over his first two June outings, and multiple runs in four of his last five appearances. All this after he performed to a .169 BA/.217 OBP/.338 SLG/.555 OPS line, and a 2.04 ERA/3.33 FIP, over 17-2/3 innings in May.

JA Happ picked up the win in a 5-1 victory over Baltimore, allowing only one unearned run on two hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out three. The punch outs tied a season low, although pitching to contact seemed to suit the left-hander just fine as he delivered his fourth quality start in his last five trips to the mound, and seventh on the season. Happ allowed three runs on four hits (including a homer) over 5-2/3 innings of a 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay on May 4. Key Matchups: Matt Duffy (5-10, HR, 3 RBI), Johnny Field (1-2, HR), Wilson Ramos (2-6, RBI), Rob Refsnyder (1-4, 2B)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Blue Jays, part two — a series preview

Rays 6/13/18 Starting Lineup

Duffy 3B
Bauers 1B
Adames SS
Cron DH
Arroyo 2B
Gomez RF
Field LF
Smith CF
Sucre C
Font RHP

Noteworthiness

— Kevin Kiermaier began his rehab assignment as DH in Port Charlotte yesterday, going 2-4 with a walk. He is slated to play six innings in centerfield tonight, while Adeiny Hechavarria is to play the field as well.

— The Rays signed first round draft pick, LH Matthew Liberatore last night.

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