The Rays swept a three-game series from the Rangers last season, and they hope to do the same this year against the Blue Jays. Two of Tampa Bay's wins at Disney in 2007 came via walk-off fashion. That series remains the only home series of three or more games the Rays have swept since June 2006.

Rays manager Joe Maddon initially had concerns about going to Orlando for regular-season games.

"I was just wondering what it was going to be like going over there and playing in a Spring Training setting for a regular-season game," Maddon said. "But when you see the facility -- they've got a two-tiered stadium -- it does present like a regular-season venue. And then the crowd support was so good and the excitement, it played like a regular-season game."

And the results were good.

"The general ambiance, everybody did such a great job of presenting it -- the Disney people, our people -- so it was a really well done event," Maddon added. "So any sort of negative thoughts I had going into last year's series have pretty much been buried, based on how it came about last year. It was all good."

James Shields enjoyed the experience last year.

"It's good to go back and [experience something] like a Minor League atmosphere again," Shields said. "It kind of brings you back to your roots a little bit. And it's good for the Orlando fans. They're excited for us to be over there, and we're excited to be over there."

As for the ballpark, the Rays manager likes it.

"I thought it played pretty fair," Maddon said. "I thought the infield was well-groomed. It was good. It was well done from all aspects. If they're able to pull it off like last year, it's going to be successful again."

Shields will be making his fifth start of the season Tuesday night, and although he's 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA -- numbers most pitchers would be happy to have -- Shields is not happy with what he's done thus far.

"I'm not pitching like last year right now," Shields said. "I'm better than that."

And looking back to last year, Shields pitched well May 15, when he went eight innings against the Rangers, allowing just three runs while toeing the rubber at Disney.

Pitching matchup
TB: RHP James Shields (1-1, 3.52 ERA)
Shields is 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA in three career starts against the Blue Jays.

TOR: RHP Jesse Litsch (2-0, 4.60 ERA)
Litsch is 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three career starts against the Rays.

Tidbits
Dioner Navarro is expected to be back with the team on Tuesday. He has been on the disabled list since April 5 after suffering lacerations to the ring and middle fingers of his right hand. Maddon said Navarro will be the designated hitter for Class A Vero Beach on Monday before rejoining the Rays in Orlando. ... Scott Kazmir (left elbow) will start Wednesday at Vero Beach. If all goes well, he'll make a start at Triple-A Durham. Kazmir could be back in the rotation by May 3 at Boston. ... Ben Zobrist (broken left thumb) took batting practice Saturday, but he only hit left-handed. ... Al Reyes (right shoulder impingement) played catch with no discomfort and threw all the way up to 120 feet. Maddon speculated that Reyes could be back in the bullpen by April 30.

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• FSN

On radio
• WHNZ 1250, WGES 680 (Español)

Up next
• Wednesday: Rays (Jason Hammel, 1-1, 4.26) vs. Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 2-2, 3.27), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Rays (Andy Sonnanstine, 2-1, 5.55) vs. Blue Jays (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Friday: Rays (TBD) vs. Red Sox (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET