Blue Jays @ Rays

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Blue Jays (84-65)

@ Tampa Bay Rays (82-67)

Starting Pitchers:

Berrios (TOR): 11-5; 4.99 ERA

Chargois (TB) 2-0; 2.76 ERA (opener)

Current odds:

Toronto Blue Jays: (-119)

Tampa Bay Rays: (+102)

• The starting line-up for the Blue Jays is as follows:

• The starting line-up for the Rays is as follows:

• The Toronto Blue Jays will meet up with a familiar foe Thursday night when they open a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. Wild-card rivals in the American League East, Toronto and Tampa Bay squared off last week in Canada in a rare five-game series over four days. The Blue Jays (84-65) and Rays (82-67) will be meeting for the 16th of 19 times — with Tampa Bay owning an 8-7 edge.

• On Wednesday, as the Rays were on their way to being swept at home for the first time in 3 1/2 years, the Blue Jays blew a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning in Philadelphia. Knotted at 3 with the Phillies, Toronto saw Teoscar Hernandez line into a double play with the bases loaded in the 10th. In the same situation in the home half, Matt Vierling chopped a game-winning single into center for a 4-3 Phillies win – capping his first career 5-for-5 night. The Blue Jays remained in the top wild-card spot by two games over the Rays and 2 1/2 over the Seattle Mariners.

• Infielder Santiago Espinal left the game with left-side discomfort.

• After seeing dynamic right-handed starting pitching in all three games against the Houston Astros, the Rays will get a look at another right-hander, Jose Berrios (11-5, 4.99). Against the Rays on Sept. 12, Berrios earned no decision in a 6 1/3-inning start, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. He walked one and struck out four in Toronto’s 3-2 win. Across seven career starts against the Rays, Berrios is 1-3 with a 4.83 ERA.

• Playing inconsistently lately, the Rays might be showing a few cracks in the team’s clubhouse composure as some frustration boiled over while being swept over three games by the Astros. Reports surfaced in the series that standout hitters Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz had a disagreement and ensuing altercation Monday night following the team’s 4-0 loss. Neither played in Tuesday night’s 5-0 loss to Houston, and only Arozarena was in Wednesday’s lineup for their 5-2 defeat in the series finale. Nursing a sore shoulder, Diaz missed a second consecutive game.

• That wasn’t the only jarring moment for the Rays this week. Shane McClanahan (neck tightness) confirmed that he was fine after exiting Tuesday’s game, despite wanting to stay in.

• JT Chargois (2-0, 2.76) will open Thursday’s game for Tampa Bay and be followed by Ryan Yarbrough (2-8, 4.33) in a bulk-innings role. Yarbrough is 8-3 with 3.36 ERA in 20 career appearances (nine starts) against Toronto.