The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off a three-game sweep as they knocked the Chicago White Sox's pitching staff around to the tune of 24 runs on 38 hits before getting Thursday off to recharge the batteries.

Here they'll face Toronto rookie right-hander Trent Thornton (0-0, 1.59 ERA) who has fanned 15 while allowing just a pair of runs through his first 10 2/3 innings of work in the big leagues, but I don't think he's ready for this Rays team and their red hot bats.

The Rays' pitching staff owns a combined 1.98 ERA and tonight's opener, Ryne Stanek (0-0, 1.50 ERA), has certainly pulled his weight. Toronto has struggled to score runs here at the start of the season, entering Friday with a poor 3.00 rpg average.

The Rays are 14-6 in the last 20 meetings and 5-1 in Stanek's last six starts vs. Blue Jays.

10* play on Tampa Bay Rays.