Blue Jays @ Rays

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Blue Jays (57-45)

@ Tampa Bay Rays (54-48)

Starting Pitchers:

Gausman (TOR): 7-8; 3.30 ERA

Rasmussen (TB) 6-3; 3.17 ERA

Current odds:

Toronto Blue Jays: (-137)

Tampa Bay Rays: (+116)

• The starting line-up for Toronto is as follows:

• The starting line-up for Tampa Bay is as follows:

• As they begin a two-game series Tuesday night at St. Petersburg, Fla., the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays are a study in contrasts. The Blue Jays are soaring as they begin August with a very real chance of reaching the postseason. The Rays are falling so fast that what once seemed a certain playoff spot is looking like a long shot.

• After Sunday’s 4-1 victory against Detroit, the Blue Jays, who went through a 1-9 slide in early July, are 11-3 under new manager John Schneider. The Blue Jays are three games ahead of the Rays in the American League Central and are 7-2 since returning from the All-Star break with a plus-37 run differential.

• That fun is coming partly because the Blue Jays are winning and partly because Schneider has brought a looser environment. Before Saturday’s game with Detroit, Schneider had a DJ spinning music in the middle of the locker room. Schneider also has brought a style of play that is more aggressive.

• As the Rays begin August, they couldn’t be in a much more desperate situation. Since reaching the All-Star break at 51-41, the Rays have lost seven of 10 games and three consecutive series. To make matters worse, their seemingly untouchable ace Shane McClanahan got roughed up in Sunday’s 5-3 loss to Cleveland. McClanahan lasted only 4 1/3 innings and gave up a season-high-tying seven hits along with five runs.

• Help could be on the way sometime around early September when Wander Franco, Harold Ramirez and Manuel Margot are expected to return from injuries. But September could be too late if the Rays continue playing on their current trajectory.

• The Rays clearly intend to be active around Tuesday’s trade deadline, as the team was part of two deals on Monday. Tampa Bay picked up outfielder Jose Siri from Houston as part of a three-way trade also involving Baltimore, and they acquired left-handed reliever Garrett Cleavinger from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• Those moves came on the heels of the Rays adding a key bat to their lineup when they traded with Arizona for veteran outfielder David Peralta on Saturday.

• Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman (7-8, 3.30 ERA) will get Tuesday’s start against Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen (6-3, 3.17).