Today at 4:10 p.m. ET, the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays jump start their 2014 seasons in Opening Day action live from Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay. The game can be live streamed here. Toronto fans can hear all of the action on SN 590 while Tampa Bay fans can do the same on WDAE 620.
R.A. Dickey takes the hill for the Blue Jays after going 14-13 last year in his first season with the team along with a 4.21 ERA. He'll be opposed by Rays ace David Price, who went 10-8 in 2013 with a 3.33 ERA.
The Rays look to make the playoffs after having a short stint in October last season while the Jays look to make the postseason for the first time since 1993.
Dickey is excited for his team entering this season.
"I think the heartbeat is a lot different this year. I think, one, we're very comfortable. If I had a word to describe what this camp has been, it's been comfortable," the 2012 National League Cy Young award winner told MLB.com. "Guys really know that this is a big year for us, collectively. We're kind of getting a mulligan this year."
After a huge spending spree last offseason, Toronto was very silent this winter while Tampa Bay spent an uncharacteristic amount, mostly to retain some of their own players.
Though the Blue Jays were quiet, the Rays aren't taking them lightly.
"Nobody is talking about Toronto this year, and that's not good, because I really believe they're going to be better just based on last year's experience," Rays manager Joe Maddon said via MLB.com. "You look at their lineup right now -- and I know people are going to talk about their pitching a bit -- but their lineup is really thick. ... It's a coin flip on how this is all going to shake out [in the AL East] this year."
The Blue Jays boast speed and power at the top of their lineup with shortstop Jose Reyes and slugging outfielder Jose Bautista while the Rays counter with a great core that remains mostly intact and is led by Evan Longoria.
The 2014 season kicks off for the Blue Jays and Rays when they take the diamond at Tropicana Field today in Tampa Bay.
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