The Tampa Bay Rays host the Toronto Blue Jays at 6:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Drew Rasmussen (12-5, 2.78 ERA) will start for the Rays, who are 75-50 this season and first in the AL East. Max Scherzer (1-5, 6.59 ERA) is expected to start for the Blue Jays, who are 62-65 and fourth in the AL East.

How to watch Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Blue Jays vs. Rays odds

• Favorite Moneyline: Rays -208
• Underdog Moneyline: Blue Jays +170
• Total: 7.5
• Total Over Odds: +100
• Total Under Odds: -120

Injury reports

Rays

Ben Williamson: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Victor Mesa Jr.: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Cole Sulser: 15 Day IL (Back), Griffin Jax: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Jake Fraley: 60 Day IL (Groin), Manuel Rodriguez: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ryan Pepiot: 60 Day IL (Hip), Gavin Lux: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Jon Heasley: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Edwin Uceta: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)

Blue Jays

Luis Urias: 10 Day IL (Quadricep), Jonatan Clase: 10 Day IL (Foot), Spencer Arrighetti: 15 Day IL (Foot), Jameson Taillon: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Trey Yesavage: 15 Day IL (Knee), Cody Ponce: 60 Day IL (Knee), Anthony Santander: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Jake Bloss: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Bowden Francis: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Joe Mantiply: 60 Day IL (Knee), Addison Barger: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Yimi Garcia: 60 Day IL (Elbow), José Berrios: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Patrick Corbin: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 7 Day IL (Head)

Stats to know

• Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero is slashing .275/.364/.537 this season with 35 home runs (4th in MLB), 79 RBIs (11th in MLB) and an OPS of .900 (7th in MLB). He has an 18.6% strikeout rate and a 12.1% walk rate in 547 plate appearances, and he has scored 77 total runs.
• In 534 plate appearances, Yandy Diaz has slashed .306/.375/.468 this season. He has hit 18 long balls and driven in 70 runs with a strikeout rate of 14.2% and a walk rate of 8.4%. He has come around to score 71 times.
• Ernie Clement has hit nine home runs this season. He has also tallied 43 RBIs and has scored 54 runs. In 498 plate appearances, he has recorded a .285 BA, .309 OBP and .405 SLG with a 3.4% walk rate and a 9.4% strikeout rate.
• In 498 plate appearances, Kazuma Okamoto has slashed .227/.299/.432 this season. He has hit 25 long balls (18th in MLB) and driven in 72 runs with a strikeout rate of 30.7% and a walk rate of 8.2%. and has scored 66 runs.

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Washington Commanders outside linebacker Dorance Armstrong kicked a police officer while being arrested during an incident in May 2025 in Frisco, Texas, according to police and court records. The NFL on Friday announced that Armstrong was suspended for the first game of the upcoming regular season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, without providing any details. 

Armstrong, now 29, was initially charged with assaulting a peace officer with bodily injury, resisting arrest and public intoxication, the first of which is a second-degree felony and punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Armstrong accepted a plea deal with “deferred adjudication community supervision,” meaning he pleaded guilty but the court held off on entering his conviction. He was placed on nine months of conditional probation in January and was ordered to pay a $100 fine and perform community service.

Neither Armstrong’s agent nor his attorney responded to requests for comment.

The incident took place around 7:45 p.m. on May 10, 2025, in Frisco, according to the redacted arrest report. Two officers from the Frisco Police Department were dispatched to a call for service from a woman — later described as Armstrong’s girlfriend — who claimed Armstrong was intoxicated and trying to remove her and her two young children from their home.

Officers arrived to find Armstrong standing outside with another man, Charles Gaston, who later told the officers that he helped manage Armstrong and his finances, according to the report.

The reporting officer noted that Armstrong smelled of alcohol and was “clearly upset” to see law enforcement arrive. He began to shout profanities at the officers, calling one of them “a b—-” and telling them to leave, the report says. The officers noticed that Armstrong’s right hand was bleeding and he had blood on his shirt.

Gaston told one of the officers that he and Armstrong had been at a “business meeting” since about 1 p.m. that day and that Armstrong “drank too many alcoholic beverages” and had been arguing with his girlfriend, according to the report. Armstrong and Gaston had not yet gone inside the home when officers arrived, the report says, and Armstrong had punched the brick exterior out of anger, injuring his right hand. 

While the reporting officer spoke with Gaston, another man, Michael Ledo, arrived and said he was Armstrong’s manager. Gaston and Ledo both attempted to calm Armstrong, according to the report. The second officer then went inside to speak to Armstrong’s girlfriend.

Armstrong’s girlfriend informed the officer that they had been arguing for most of the day but that there had been no physical altercation between them. She told the officer she knew Armstrong was intoxicated and was scared to have him come inside the home, according to the arrest report.

With the officers still there, Armstrong entered the backyard of the home through a side gate and pounded on the windows and doors and kicked the back door to try to get inside. The officers convinced his girlfriend to leave the home for the night, the report says. 

But Armstrong was able to see through the home and “started to ramp up” upon seeing his girlfriend pack her suitcase, according to the officers’ report.

As Armstrong’s girlfriend began to load her suitcase and children in the car, officers reported hearing glass break at the rear of the home. As they helped Armstrong’s girlfriend get into the vehicle, Armstrong emerged from the backyard. He yelled to the officer to “get away from my baby” and to “give me my baby,” but the other officer intervened, allowing the child to be loaded into the vehicle so Ledo could drive off.

Armstrong then allegedly turned his anger on Gaston and repeatedly tried to instigate a fight with him.

The officers reported that Armstrong’s “anger and unpredictability,” combined with the information that he punched a wall, made him “a threat to himself and others.” He was arrested for public intoxication and placed in handcuffs, but as officers began to walk him to the patrol car, he began to resist and started to walk in the opposite direction, they reported.

A third officer then arrived. Armstrong “actively resisted” being put in the patrol car, according to the report.

When the third officer tried to reach over Armstrong to connect his seat belt, Armstrong turned and kicked the officer in his chest, according to the arrest report.

Armstrong was transported to Frisco County Jail and, according to the police report, declined multiple offers for medical assistance.

As part of his plea bargain, Armstrong’s charges were reduced to a Class A misdemeanor punishable with up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Armstrong entered a guilty plea and was placed on probation that requires him to submit to random urinalysis as well as a substance abuse screening, and to avoid alcohol, drugs, firearms and any contact with the officer he kicked. He was also required to do 30 hours of community service, agree to anger management and pay the $100 fine and court costs.

The Commanders, who declined to comment on Armstrong’s arrest or one-game ban, adhered to the NFL protocols for reporting the arrest and supported the league’s investigation, according to a source briefed on the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak about it publicly.

The NFL waited until the legal process played out before determining Armstrong’s punishment. He did not appeal his ban, according to a league source.

A 2018 fourth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys, Armstrong has been a starter on Washington’s defensive line since signing with the team in 2024. Last season, he led the team with 5.5 sacks through the first seven games, but he suffered an ACL injury that cost him the remainder of the season.

Armstrong opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list but returned to the field a week later.

His one-game suspension begins Aug. 30, the day NFL teams must pare their rosters to their initial 53-man list. Armstrong will be placed on the Commanders’ reserve/suspended list and will be eligible for reinstatement Sept. 14, the day after the team’s season opener against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

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The Brewers and Mariners did some extreme run-differential skewing last night. Plus: The latest on Ketel Marte, a big night for Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Blue Jays are the latest team I have to UN-declare as “cooked.” I’m Levi Weaver — welcome to The Windup!

Brewers wallop Mariners 22-0

It’s no surprise the Brewers are good. They have the best record in the sport (78-48) and (well, now) also the best run differential in the sport, at +158, thanks to a 22-0 blowout of the Mariners.

In retrospect, the most unbelievable thing about last night’s game was the 1-0 score in the middle of the fifth inning. Because a half-inning later, it was 6-0. Then 11-0, 13-0 … by the time catcher Gary Sánchez pitched a scoreless ninth inning, it was 22-0.

It tied the MLB record (since 1900) for largest margin of victory in a shutout. Only Cleveland (2004 @ NYY) and Pittsburgh (1975 @ CHC) matched it. Notably, both of those games were won by the visiting team, meaning the Brewers are the first to do it while only batting eight times.

I checked, and they’re also the only team that was gifted at least one run (probably eventually two) when an outfielder (Julio Rodríguez, in this case) forgot how many outs there were and threw a ball into the stands.

It was just that kind of night for the Mariners. They’re now 59-67 — 3-8 in their last 11 games. But because the Mariners play in the AL (more specifically, the AL West), they’re still not really out of contention just yet.

Speaking of which …

Playoff Picture: Blue Jays refuse to die

Take a look at these very silly AL wild-card standings, particularly the GB (Games Behind) column!

Starting with Texas and working our way down, you’re looking at seven teams that share these traits:

• They have losing records.
• I have said, publicly or privately, that they’re cooked.
• They are, actually, not cooked.

That’s on me. How could anything be cooked in this tepid mudhole?
Today, let’s take a look at the Blue Jays, since they’re the only one of those Texas-through-Seattle teams with a winning record in their last 10 games. On July 28, they were 10 games under .500 and 5 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot. They “threaded the needle” at the deadline, trading veterans on expiring contracts while loading up for the near future.

Was that future nearer than expected?

Beginning July 29, the Blue Jays are 13-6 (this count starts before their win over the Nationals that day), and their last 15 games have come against the Astros, Cubs, Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees and Rays — all playoff teams.

The surge has been fueled largely by their pitching and defense. As Mitch Bannon tells us today, Toronto entered Tuesday’s game with a league-best 2.87 ERA and AL-best +8 OAA (Outs Above Average) in August.

Hopefully last night’s 10-5 win over the Rays means the bats are joining the party. Before that, only Andrés Giménez (.756) and Alejandro Kirk (.970) — had an OPS over .700 this month (min. 25 PA). 

They’ve been lingering around that last AL wild-card spot for a few days now. Given the quality of the competition, I suspect they’ll get a day or two in the (… what’s the third-place equivalent of a catbird seat?) but I’m not making any other predictions about how this is gonna play out.

Middle Relief: Latest on Ketel Marte

Last night was day two of Ketel Marte’s disappearance from the team. Today, we have less an “update” and more a “what we know right now” from Stephen Nesbitt and Johnny Flores Jr. Here’s an excerpt. 

Marte’s absence from the Diamondbacks grew only more mysterious as it dragged into day two.

A day after the Diamondbacks placed Marte on the restricted list for failing to show up to Arizona’s series opener at Fenway Park, manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday he thinks Marte returned to Phoenix to get imaging on his left knee. Lovullo also said he has not heard from Marte, and he’s unsure whether anyone in the organization is currently in contact with him.

“I’m still hoping he’s OK,” Lovullo said. “Looking forward to having a connection with him at some point as soon as possible. Overall, I feel like if you don’t show up to work, something is on your mind (and) something’s not right, and we’ve got to get it right.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Marte’s locker in the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park remained intact. His stuff arrived at the ballpark. He didn’t.

Left to publicly explain Marte’s unexcused absence, Lovullo had few concrete answers. He said he didn’t know whether the knee injury had anything to do with Marte not showing up Monday. He said he didn’t know why Marte hadn’t gotten imaging in Boston instead of Phoenix. He said he didn’t know whether to expect Marte back in the lineup for the stretch run.

“I hope so,” Lovullo said. “We need him. He’s a good player. One of the best players in the National League, as far as I’m concerned.”

Marte, 32, is a three-time All-Star with two top-five finishes in NL MVP voting. He’s not having a typically superb season at bat, yet he still has 21 homers and a 107 OPS+. He is in the second season of a seven-year, $116.5 million contract signed in April 2025. Of that $116.5 million, $41 million is deferred, and the payouts do not begin until 10 years after the money is earned.

Marte tweaked his left knee and exited Friday’s game in Atlanta, then sat Saturday before playing Sunday. On Monday, he was supposed to serve as designated hitter. It doesn’t seem the position change rankled Marte; Lovullo said that conversation would have happened after Marte got to the park.

The Diamondbacks entered play Tuesday with a 66-60 record, one game out of a wild-card spot in a tightly packed NL playoff picture.

For the rest, click here.

Look At This: Fernando’s big night

Remember April 30? Fernando Tatis Jr. was in the 99th percentile for hard-hit baseballs, but still hadn’t hit even one home run. It was perplexing!

He did get that first home run, but not until May 30.

Well, he has course-corrected. Last night, he hit homers Nos. 14 and 15. If he had been hitting them in April and May as he has since June 1, he’d be somewhere around 25 (his season total from 2023 and 2025).

In the meantime, his defense has not slumped. That was on display last night too, as he robbed Francisco Lindor of a grand slam with this catch to end the second inning.

That’s a phenomenal catch, and the pose made every highlight reel. But what makes the GIF, for me, is the cap flip at the end. Launched off his head, completely out of frame, then dropping out of the sky, as if to taunt the ball: “I land wherever I want.”

The Padres beat the Mets 5-2. That catch was the difference in the game, and San Diego gained a game on Arizona; they now hold a two-game lead for the third NL wild-card position.

Handshakes and High Fives

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shohei Ohtani both homered again last night. It was Ohtani’s 30th, and Crow-Armstrong’s 31st. Jon Greenberg takes another look at PCA’s MVP case, and Rustin Dodd says the outfielder’s “mind-wandering” is maybe not a bad thing!

Meanwhile, after a lengthy rain delay, the Cubs walked off the White Sox for the second night in a row.

Great news for the Yankees: Aaron Judge has been cleared to “start his hitting progression” this week. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton is “toward the end of his running program,” and Cody Bellinger will start a rehab assignment Thursday.

Other injury reports: Joe Ryan (Twins) threw a successful bullpen. In Pittsburgh, Oneil Cruz came off the IL and homered in his first game since June 7. And Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz is back on the IL, this time with neck inflammation.

Chandler Rome doesn’t think Tatsuya Imai is returning to the Astros rotation from the bullpen any time soon.

The Phillies might need someone to snub Zack Wheeler for another All-Star Game soon.

Who’s your pick for NL Rookie of the Year? C. Trent Rosecrans compares JJ Wetherholt and Sal Stewart, two of the favorites.

Trey Mancini, who authored two inspiring comebacks to the big leagues, has announced his retirement at age 34.

The situation with Dodgers owner Mark Walter gets curiouser and curiouser.

It doesn’t seem great that ratings are down for Netflix’s baseball broadcasts. The last time MLB played at the Field of Dreams, 3.10 million people watched it. This year: 1.66 million.

That’s still more people than will watch me play there … which … I am doing soon! I’m taking the next two weeks off to go play some sandlot baseball games in, among other places, the Field of Dreams (I’m pretty psyched, to be honest). I’ll be back on Sept. 2, but you’re in good hands with our MLB crew filling in.

Most-clicked in our last Windup: Sam Blum’s investigation into how Macombs Dam Park — a public space with a baseball field where the original Yankee Stadium once stood — has fallen into disrepair.

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