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Rays-Blue Jays preview

 
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 27:  Drew Smyly #33 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a photo on photo day at Charlotte Sports Park on February 27, 2015 in Port Charlotte, Florida.  (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Drew Smyly #33 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a photo on photo day at Charlotte Sports Park on February 27, 2015 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Published April 24, 2015

Rays vs. Blue Jays

When/where: 7:10 tonight, Tropicana Field

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM

Tickets: $11-$200, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within 5 hours of game time.

Probable pitchers

Rays: LH Drew Smyly (0-0, 0.00)

jays: RH R.A. Dickey (0-1, 3.26)

On Smyly: Makes first start following DL stint shoulder tendinitis. Was 3-1, 1.70 in seven Rays starts following July 31 trade from Detroit. Is 1-0, 0.00 in four games (three starts) vs. Jays.

On Dickey: Knuckleballing nemesis worked 6 IP vs. Rays April 13, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 5 walks. Has walked 12 in 19 IP overall. Is 6-6, 4.07 in 18 games (14 starts) vs. Rays, 3-3. 3.45 at Trop.

Key matchups

Rays vs. dickey

David DeJesus1-for-16

Desmond Jennings3-for-20, 7 Ks

Evan Longoria8-for-33, 2 HR

jays vs. smyly

Jose Bautista 0-for-4

Josh Donaldson 4-for-6, HR

Jose Reyes 1-for-5

Numbers of the day

229 Days since LHP Drew Smyly's last big-league game, Sept. 6.

13 Players, after further research, who homered in first at-bat for Rays, as INF/OF Jake Elmore did Wednesday.

12 DL moves by the Rays, second most over last 20 years for a team in April; Texas had 14 last year.

111 Bases-loaded walks by Ray since 2008, 22 more than any other team.

On deck

Saturday: vs. Blue Jays, 6:10. Rays — TBA; Jays — LH Daniel Norris (1-1, 6.08)

Sunday: vs. Blue Jays, 1:10. Rays — RH Chris Archer (2-2, 1.07); Jays — LH Mark Buehrle (3-0, 4.00)

Monday: at Yankees, 7:05. Rays — RH Nathan Karns (1-1, 5.32); Yankees — RH Adam Warren (0-1, 4.82)

Tuesday: at Yankees, 7:05. Rays — RH Jake Odorizzi (2-1, 1.74); Yankees — RH Masahiro Tanaka (2-1, 3.94)

Wednesday: at Yankees, 1:05. Rays — LH Drew Smyly (0-0, 0.00); Yankees — RH Michael Pineda (2-0, 5.00)

Thursday: Off