ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There is no easing into the season for the Tampa Bay Rays hosting Toronto to begin the year.
Both teams reached the playoffs without winning a game in the first round of the postseason. Tampa Bay won 99 games in 2023, and Toronto won 89 games. According to Fangraphs, they are projecting a one-win difference between these two clubs.
The Blue Jays get a favorable turn in St. Petersburg considering guys like Josh Lowe, Taj Bradley, Jonathan Aranda and Jonny DeLuca are all on the injured list. As for the Rays, they might avoid one of the best pitchers in MLB with Kevin Gausman working back from a Spring Training injury. If he does face the Rays, it would be Sunday and likely on a pitch count.
Tropicana Field was certainly a beloved location for the Rays going an impressive 53-28 at home in 2023. Someone who loves playing in St. Pete is Blue Jays star Bo Bichette who played high school ball for Lakewood. He hit .364 against his hometown city last season.
The Rays will play 26 games in 28 days to start the 2024 campaign. After the first seven matchups against Toronto and Texas, the defending World Series champion who knocked Tampa Bay out of the playoffs one year ago, Tampa Bay goes to work for 22 straight games against opponents who failed to reach October baseball in 2023.
Tampa Bay's Opening Day roster features only four players on the World Series roster four years ago. Also, only 11 players were on the Opening Day roster last year at this time. A lot of that has to do with injuries, but that is still an immense amount of turnover, creating plenty of unknowns.
Blue Jays at Rays series:
Thursday: 4:10 p.m.
Friday: 6:50 p.m.
Saturday: 4:10 p.m.
Sunday: 1:40 p.m.
