Key for Rays: Making pitches

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays have the best team in the American League, their top three starters and best relievers rested and ready, their lineup relatively healthy with a chance to get back one or both key injured hitters, their experience from last year’s playoffs and momentum, with wins in nine of their last 11 games.

So as they open a bestof-three playoff series with the No. 8-seeded Blue Jays on Tuesday, what could go wrong?

Given that the Rays feel pitching is their biggest strength, their biggest concern would be if that fails them.

“I think our biggest advantage is our pitching,” centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier said. “Our pitchers are filthy and I don’t know if there’s another pitching staff that can replicate what our guys can do — starters, bullpen, it doesn’t matter.

“I definitely think that’s very safe to say. They have some really good guys over there as well. But we have a ton of power arms from top to bottom. We ride on our pitchers. I always tell them they are the backbone of this team.”

As well as the Rays pitched overall this season and in overcoming a staggering amount of injuries, they didn’t do that well against the Jays.

The Rays won six of the 10 games, eight decided by one or two runs, four in extra innings.

But the Jays outscored them 48-44, out-homered them 17-11 and led in eight of the games. The Jays starters had a better ERA, 3.83-4.04.

“Having a lot of games in the series [with the Rays] that we felt we should’ve won gives us a lot of confidence coming in here,” Jays shortstop and Orlando native Bo Bichette said. “We didn’t mind playing Tampa, for sure. We’re familiar with them. We’ve played them well.

“We know we’re as talented as them. They do everything well, every part of the game. They do little things really, really well. For us to beat them, we’re going to have to do that stuff. We’re confident in our ability against them. Our talent matches up well. We think if we play well, we’ve got a good chance.”