AP Sports Preview

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Rays open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday at 7:10 p.m. at George Steinbrenner Field, looking to extend their early-season dominance in the AL East.

First-place Tampa Bay (21-12) enters the contest with a league-best 21 wins and riding a three-game winning streak after a 2-1, 10-inning victory over San Francisco on Sunday. The Rays, installed as -1.5 favorites, have won nine of their last 10 games, powered by strong starting pitching. The club’s run differential during that stretch underscores a balanced attack and a bullpen that has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of those contests.

Toronto (16-18) has lost four of its last five and sits fourth in the division after a 4-3 defeat at Minnesota on Sunday. The Blue Jays are 4-6 over their last 10 games, with inconsistent offense and a middle-of-the-pack ERA. The projected over/under for the game is 8 runs, and Interstat’s simulator projects a 7-6 Rays victory.

Pitching matchup

Right-hander Trey Yesavage (1-1, 5.79 ERA in three starts) takes the ball for Toronto. The rookie is coming off a solid outing at Minnesota on Sunday, tossing 4 innings and allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts in a 4-3 loss. His best start of the season came April 28 vs. Boston, when he threw 5⅓ shutout innings in a 3-0 win. Yesavage has 9 strikeouts over his last 9⅓ innings.

Veteran lefty Steven Matz (4-1, 3.27 ERA) starts for Tampa Bay. Matz has been one of the league’s most consistent starters, winning four of his last five decisions. On Sunday against San Francisco, he threw 6 innings of 1-run ball in a 2-1 victory. In his prior start at Cleveland, he went 7 innings, allowing 2 runs in a 3-2 win. The lone blemish in his recent stretch was a tough outing April 21 vs. Cincinnati (3 IP, 4 ER, 4 K).

Players to watch

Kazuma Okamoto provided Toronto’s only power in Sunday’s loss, homering and driving in both runs. He’ll look to spark a Blue Jays lineup that has managed just 6 runs over the last two games.

Tampa Bay’s bullpen has been lights-out, with Hunter Bigge and Bryan Baker combining for 3 scoreless innings in Sunday’s extra-inning win.

The forecast at game time is 79 degrees with clouds.

Note: This is the first of three games between the clubs at Steinbrenner Field. The series continues Tuesday.