Comforts of home: For whatever reason, Rays starter James Shields is a much better pitcher at home — 5-1, 2.13 compared with 2-5, 6.26. Overall against the Blue Jays, he is 3-0, 2.70.
Possible farewell: Blue Jays starter A.J. Burnett has been mentioned in several trade rumors and usually pitches well against the Rays, going 6-3, 3.21 with a .197 average. Carlos Pena is 2-for-14 against him, Dioner Navarro 3-for-15, Eric Hinske 3-for-12 and Akinori Iwamura 2-for-10.
Cito sighting: New (old) Jays skipper Cito Gaston, back for a second stint after leading the Jays in 1989-97, will manage his first game at the Trop.
On deck
Saturday: Blue Jays, 6:10, No TV. Rays — RHP Matt Garza (7-4, 3.51); Blue Jays — RHP Roy Halladay (11-6, 2.71)
Sunday: Blue Jays, 1:40, FSN. Rays — LHP Scott Kazmir (7-5, 3.04) or RHP Edwin Jackson (5-6, 3.93); Blue Jays — LHP John Parrish (1-0, 2.77)
Monday: A's, 7:10, FSN. Rays — RHP Edwin Jackson (5-6, 3.93) or LHP Scott Kazmir (7-5, 3.04); A's — RHP Sean Gallagher (4-4, 4.25)
Tuesday: A's, 7:10, Ch. 66. Rays — RHP Andy Sonnanstine (10-4, 4.58); A's — LHP Dana Eveland (7-6, 3.49)
By the numbers
Home/road: 36-14/19-25
Day/night: 14-15/41-27
Grass/turf: 19-23/36-15
vs. East: 24-17
vs. Central: 8-9
vs. West: 11-7
vs. NL: 12-6
vs. RH/LH starters: 40-26/ 15-13
Ahead after 6/7/8: 42-3/ 43-3/48-0
Behind after 6/7/8: 4-30/ 3-32/1-32
The dish
Tonight: Blue Jays at Rays
When/where: 7:10; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
TV/radio: Ch. 66; 1250-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable pitchers:
Rays
RHP James Shields (7-6, 3.83)
Jays
RHP A.J. Burnett (10-8, 4.96)
Number of the day
138,875 Doughnuts given away by Dunkin' Donuts after Rays wins, about 2,525 per and 20,000 more than all of last season.
P-word note of the day
For the first time in their 11 seasons, the Rays put out a news release with these words: Postseason benefits. The "news" was that Saturday is the last chance to buy prorated season-ticket packages "which include the opportunity to purchase 2008 postseason ticket packages."
Quote of the day
"I didn't think about nothing."
LF Carl Crawford, when asked if he thought much about the successful first half during the break
rays.tampabay.com: Up to the minute reports | Ticket info: 1-888-326-7297, raysbaseball.com
[Last modified: Jul 18, 2008 04:36 PM]
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