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Up next for Tampa Bay Rays: vs. Toronto Blue Jays

 
Published May 21, 2012

. Up next

vs. Blue Jays

Tonight-Wednesday

What's new: The Jays took four of five from the Yankees and Mets after losing a two-game set to Tampa Bay last week. Toronto will get 3B Brett Lawrie back today after a four-game suspension for his helmet-throwing incident against the Rays. The Jays optioned 1B Adam Lind to Triple A and reportedly put him on waivers. Home run champ RF Jose Bautista, though batting .217, has hits in five of his last six games, including three homers. DH Edwin Encarnacion has stepped up (.263, 13 HRs, 64 RBIs).

Key stat: The Jays rank third in the AL with 195 runs and third in ERA (3.61).

Connections: Bautista was a Ray briefly in 2004, 3B coach Brian Butterfield is a former Eckerd College assistant. … Rays C Jose Molina was a Jay in 2010-11.

Series history: The Rays lead 4-1 this season and 126-118 overall; the Rays lead 69-49 at Tropicana Field.

Joe Smith, Times staff writer