Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays (2026-07-20). Nick Martinez vs Dylan Cease at Rogers Centre.
Starters — Martinez has a 2.65 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 105.1 innings, with a modest 5.3 K/9, excellent 1.62 BB/9, and 0.94 HR/9. His last three starts were steady: 5.1 innings and 2 earned runs with 1 strikeout and 1 walk, then 5.1 innings and 1 earned run with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk, then 5.2 innings and 1 earned run with 3 strikeouts and no walks. The trend is listed down, but the recent run prevention and control remain strong. Cease enters with a 2.56 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 98.1 innings, backed by an elite 13.55 K/9, a higher 4.03 BB/9, and a stingy 0.46 HR/9. His last three starts show dominant upside: 8 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts and 3 walks, 7 scoreless innings with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk, and before that 4.2 innings with 4 earned runs, 10 strikeouts, and 5 walks. His trend is also listed down, but his strikeout ceiling has been obvious.
Teams — Tampa Bay brings the stronger offensive profile with a .731 OPS, 435 runs, and a .257 average. The Rays also have the better run prevention numbers overall, carrying a 3.90 team ERA and 1.18 WHIP, though they are 4-6 over their last 10 games. Toronto has a .687 OPS, 397 runs, and a .242 average. The Blue Jays’ staff has a 4.14 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, and they are also 4-6 in their last 10. From a matchup standpoint, Tampa Bay looks more balanced on the season, while Toronto leans more heavily on Cease’s swing-and-miss advantage to shape the game.
a .731 OPS and 435 runs
5 home runs allowed in 98.1 innings
WHIP compared with Toronto’s 4.14 ERA and WHIP
