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Rays-Blue Jays Preview

Jun 28, 2009 - 9:46 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Tampa Bay (41-35) at Toronto (41-35), 7:07 p.m. EDT

Roy Halladay was understandably cautious while being treated for a groin injury, making sure he could throw all of his different pitches without pain.

There must be little doubt about his health if he's feeling good enough to face the Tamp Bay Rays.

In his first start in more than two weeks, Halladay looks to regain sole possession of the major league lead in wins as the Toronto Blue Jays try to cool off the Rays and their potent lineup in the opener of a three-game set Monday night.

Halladay (10-1, 2.53 ERA), who had been on the disabled list with a mild groin strain, felt good after throwing a bullpen session Friday and declared himself ready to return to the rotation for Toronto (41-36). He threw more than 50 pitches during the 10-minute session, experiencing no pain.

"I expected him to come in and say he was OK," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston told the team's official Web site. "He's been feeling better all the time, so it was just one of those things that he just wanted to make sure."

The right-hander was leading the majors in wins when he left a June 12 outing against Florida in the fourth inning of a 7-3 loss. Though he's missed 16 days, Halladay enters this contest tied with three others for the most victories in baseball.

Halladay is 11-7 with a 3.74 ERA versus the Rays (42-35), who have scored a major league-best 434 runs and have won five straight.

Still, Tampa Bay is hardly eager to face Halladay.

"I'm looking forward to that like a root canal," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Tampa Bay became the fastest team to reach 100 homers and 100 steals - and only the fifth to do it before the All-Star break since 1954 - when B.J. Upton homered Sunday in a 5-2 win over Florida.

The Rays, who have 118 stolen bases, accomplished the feat in 77 games. They topped Cincinnati (1977) and Cleveland (1994), which both did it in 84 games.

The top of the order has been hot for the Rays. From the leadoff spot, Upton went 5 for 11 with five RBIs and two steals in the three-game sweep of Florida. Carl Crawford, the No. 2 hitter, is batting .448 (13 for 29) with five RBIs and six runs in his last seven games.

The Blue Jays offense, meanwhile, struggled over the weekend. After being held to five hits in a 10-0 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday, Toronto went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position a day later in losing the series finale 5-4.

Aaron Hill, though, continues to be a bright spot at the plate for the Blue Jays, hitting two solo homers to give him 19 on the season.

Hill, whose previous best was 17 in 2007, has set a Toronto record for homers by a second baseman. Roberto Alomar had 17 in 1993.

Hill and Toronto have never faced Jeff Niemann (6-4, 4.23), who is set to take his turn in Tampa Bay's rotation.

Niemann was pulled after four innings in Tampa Bay's 10-6 win over the New York Mets last Sunday. He gave up two runs and three hits while walking four.

Since throwing a two-hit shutout against Kansas City on June 3, Niemann has allowed 10 runs and 15 hits in 12 2-3 innings over three starts. However, the right-hander has not surrendered a home run in his last 24 2-3 innings.

This will be the first meeting of the season between the Rays and Blue Jays. Tampa Bay won last year's series 11-7.