Series preview: Jays at Tampa Bay Rays

TROPICANA FIELD

Friday, 7 p.m. RH

Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 3.33) vs. LH Drew Smyly (1-2, 2.51)

Saturday, 6 p.m. LH J.A. Happ (3-0, 2.42) vs. RH Chris Archer (1-4, 5.47)

Sunday, 1 p.m. RH Marcus Stroman (3-0, 4.37) vs. RH Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 3.58)

TV: Sportsnet

Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN

Key players

Josh Donaldson, Toronto. Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson has six hits — including two homers — and three RBIs in 11 career at-bats vs. Rays starter Drew Smyly, a tough lefty who has struck out 17 in his last 15 innings. Steven Souza Jr., Tampa Bay. The Rays are a scrappy team offensively. In the past five games, they’ve scored 83 per cent of their runs with two out. Souza, a sophomore outfielder, has delivered five homers and a teamleading 11 RBIs.

Need to know: Blue Jays hitters have reached double digits in strikeouts in 11 of their first 23 games. They’ve piled up 217 so far, a franchise record for that many games. The three Rays starters in the series have combined for 93 Ks . . . An offence that is supposed to be the best in baseball ranks 10th in runs with 91 . . . Archer lost his first four starts before beating Baltimore his last time out. The all-star right-hander has his fastball-slider combo in fine order — Former Jay David Price called Archer’s slider “the best pitch in baseball” — but he has also successfully worked a changeup into his repertoire and will likely feature it against the Jays.

Up next: Four-game home series vs. Texas Rangers starting Monday Mark Zwolinski