After a rough September stretch, the Tampa Bay Rays are once again making a final push over the last 15 games of the season. The Rays will go for the sweep of Toronto on Sunday and try to extend their win streak to five games. Jeremy Hellickson will get the ball and try to keep it rolling, entering the game with an 8-10 record and 3.31 ERA. Hellickson has been strong in the month of September and he has a 2.84 ERA in three starts against the Blue Jays this season.
John Farrell will counter with rookie righty Chad Jenkins, who will be making his first MLB start. Jenkins has appeared in 10 games this season, all out of the bullpen. He came on in relief against the Rays in the first week of September and pitched five solid innings, his longest outing of the season. Still, getting the start against the rolling Rays should be a whole new experience.
Tampa enters the game just 3½ games back of the Oakland A's for the second Wild Card spot. Picking up the series finale against the Jays will be crucial before Joe Maddon's club hits the road for their final trip of the season.
Time/day: Sunday, Sept. 23 at 1:40 p.m. ET
Place: Tropicana Field, Tampa, Fla.
TV/Radio: Sun Sports, WFLA 970, WAMA 1550
For more on the Rays, head over to DRays Bay. For more info on the Blue Jays, check out Bluebird Banter. For more information all the wildcard races, read up over at Baseball Nation.