Rays tickets: $9-$210, available at Tropicana Field box office (no service charge), by phone (1-888-326-7297), all Ticketmaster outlets and on raysbaseball.com; $2 surcharge for purchases within five hours of that day's game.
Up next: Blue Jays
Today-Thursday
What's new: The Blue Jays (67-63), having lost two of three to the Red Sox, have fallen eight games out of the wild-card spot and can ill afford to lose any more ground. Like the Rays, they boast one of the majors' top pitching staffs: They rank first in ERA at 3.63. The Jays are strong defensively, tied for second in fielding percentage (.987).
Key stat: The Jays have hit .211 on the road against Tampa Bay this season. In nine games against the Rays, they've hit just .233.
Connections: LHP Trever Miller and OFs Eric Hinske and Gabe Gross are former Jays. Jays RHP Shawn Camp is an ex-Ray, and RHP Jesse Litsch, who starts Thursday, is a Pinellas Park product and former Rays batboy.
Series history: Rays lead 9-3 this season, 5-1 at home (3-0 at Disney); Jays lead overall 95-84, 53-38 at Tampa Bay.
Watch for
Strong Shields: Rays starter James Shields has fared well against the Jays in his career (4-1, 2.63 ERA in six starts). The Jays' typical starting lineup has combined to hit .158 (16-101) all time vs. the right-hander.
Acing the ace: Jays ace Roy Halladay may be tough to face, but the Rays have made him look human this season, going 3-0 against the Cy Young Award winner. Halladay is 15-6 against the other AL teams.
Joe Smith,Times staff writer
On deck
Wednesday: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10, Ch. 66. Rays — RHP Matt Garza (10-7, 3.71); Jays — LHP David Purcey (2-4, 6.55)
Thursday: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10, FSN. Rays — RHP Edwin Jackson (10-8, 3.93); Jays — RHP Jesse Litsch (9-7, 4.01)
Friday: vs. Orioles, 7:10, FSN. Rays — LHP Scott Kazmir (9-6, 3.27); Orioles — TBA
Turnaround time
The Rays have made huge strides among MLB teams:
20072008
Runs allowedLast (944)2nd (515)
ERALast (5.53)2nd (3.71)
Opponents BALast (.290)2nd (.244)
Bullpen ERALast (6.16)4th (3.32)
Opponents' BA vs. bullpenLast (.303)1st (.217)
Fewest blown saves12th (21)Tie-2nd (9)
Fielding percentage27th (.980)6th (.986)
Fan of the day
Rays fan Alan Snel, an avid cyclist and Dunkin' Donuts loyalist, has made a pledge that if Tampa Bay makes the playoffs, he'll make a 100-mile bike ride through the bay area to stop at as many Dunkin' Donuts locations as possible.
Magic number
29
Number of Tampa Bay wins and Boston losses for Rays to win AL East.
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