The New What Next: Rays vs. Blue Jays ― the Final Series Preview of the Year

The end is nigh. The Tampa Bay Rays have come full circle from the start of the season to now, and they are set to start the final series of the season on Friday when the Toronto Blue Jays come to town.

In my estimation, the Rays are playing for three things: Pride, the desire to end things on a high note, and the ability to end the season with a .500 record. However, to accomplish those things may be easier said than done ― we all saw first hand what Toronto is capable of when the Jays sunk Tampa Bay in a three game sweep last weekend.

Tampa Bay is coming off a three game sweep of the Miami Marlins; their first since July 10-12 when they took three from the Houston Astros. Coming off a pair of losses against the Orioles, the Blue Jays are still in the fight for the best record in the American League with the Royals. That is, don’t expect either team to roll over and allow the other to take advantage.

Kevin Cash will throw Erasmo Ramirez, Chris Archer, and Matt Moore over the next three days. After allowing a two-run homer to David Ortiz in the first inning on September 24th, Ramirez (11-6, 3.65 ERA)  held Boston scoreless over the next six innings, earning his 11th win of the year. In 18 starts with at least two runs of support this season, he is 11-1 with a 2.87 ERA. The righty has worked seven innings in three straight starts, and is 11-5 with a 2.99 ERA since moving into rotation full time. Ramirez has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 18 starts. Archer (12-13, 3.26 ERA) experienced his worst outing of the season in his last start against Toronto, allowing nine runs on 10 hits in 3-2/3 innings, including five walks and two home runs. Moore (2-4, 5.84 ERA) gave Tampa Bay his third consecutive quality start en route to his fifth win of the year on Tuesday. Moore is 1-1 with a 3.26 ERA in five starts since his September 5 recall from Triple-A Durham.

Mark Buehrle (14-7, 3.76 ERA) enters his start Friday 8-2/3 innings shy of hitting the 200-inning plateau for the 15th consecutive season. Warren Spahn, Don Sutton and Gaylord Perry are the only ones to have done it. The quick working lefty took a no-decision in his last start, giving up three earned runs across six innings on Sunday. He gave up eight hits and two walks while striking out one. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (4-8), Logan Forsythe (10-25, 4 2B, 3 RBI, BB), Brandon Guyer (7-20, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (4-11, RBI), James Loney (7-27, 3 2B), Evan Longoria (16-50, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB), Mikie Mahtook (2-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB), Daniel Nava (4-13, 2B, HR, RBI), Steven Souza Jr. (3-9, HR, RBI, BB)

Marco Estrada (13-8, 3.15 ERA) has allowed three runs or fewer in 11 of his last 12 outings while posting a 2.63 ERA over that stretch. Estrada did not factor into the decision on Monday against Baltimore, surrendering four hits, three earned runs and a walk over 7-1/3 innings. He struck out two. The righty enjoyed his third consecutive quality start, capping off a strong September. Estrada was sharp with his control as well, throwing 58 of 82 pitches for strikes, though he induced just seven whiffs. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-4, 2B, BB), Logan Forsythe (3-8, 2B), Brandon Guyer (1-4, RBI), James Loney (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, BB), Grady Sizemore (1-4, BB)

Sunday’s starter is TBA.

Noteworthiness

― The Rays have homered in a season high 11 consecutive games.

― Tampa Bay has played in an MLB most 93 games decided by one or two runs; they are 45-48 overall.

― The Rays and Marlins played the first regular-season interleague game in October in major-league history on Thursday. There have been 617 such meetings in World Series play.