The Tampa Bay Rays enter their May 23 matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays with a 23–26 record and a season defined by transition and adversity, including their current displacement from Tropicana Field due to Hurricane Milton, which has forced them to play their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, disrupting their routine and home-field advantage. Despite these off-field challenges, the Rays have managed to remain competitive, hovering just below .500 and still within striking distance in the crowded American League East, thanks in large part to the emergence of young talent like Junior Caminero and steady veteran contributors such as Yandy Díaz. Caminero has delivered a team-leading seven home runs and 16 RBIs, while Díaz has provided balance with six home runs and 20 RBIs of his own, keeping the offense afloat amid inconsistency from the rest of the lineup. Offensively, Tampa Bay has struggled at times to generate sustained rallies, often relying on solo homers and isolated bursts of offense rather than prolonged innings, which has made them vulnerable against teams with deep rotations and effective bullpens. On the mound, Shane Baz will take the ball with a 3–2 record and a 4.93 ERA, hoping to deliver a bounce-back performance and help stabilize a pitching staff that has been inconsistent all season, with young starters still finding their footing and a bullpen that has been asked to shoulder a heavy load.

Baz’s upside remains high, and his ability to miss bats gives him the potential to contain even strong lineups like Toronto’s, but command and pitch efficiency will be crucial if he’s to navigate the Blue Jays’ patient, power-hitting lineup. Defensively, the Rays have played relatively clean baseball, although lapses in concentration have occasionally led to costly mistakes in close games, something they can’t afford against a divisional opponent that capitalizes on errors. Tampa Bay has gone 5–5 against the run line in their last 10 games, illustrating their ability to keep games close even when they fall short on the scoreboard, and they’ll need to lean into their strengths—situational hitting, defensive positioning, and aggressive baserunning—to overcome a Toronto team that comes in with more momentum. Manager Kevin Cash continues to get the most out of his roster, mixing and matching lineups and bullpen arms to give his team a chance to compete nightly, even with limited resources and the added challenge of playing away from their traditional home. As they look to claw their way back to .500 and reignite a push within the division, this game against the Blue Jays offers both a test and an opportunity—a test of their resilience under challenging conditions and an opportunity to reset the tone of their season with a win against a direct rival in the standings. A sharp outing from Baz and a few timely hits from their core could be just what the Rays need to spark momentum at a time when their season could go in either direction.