ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Ryan Yarbrough sure drove the Toronto Blue Jays nuts during his five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. In the 23 games they faced off, he posted a 9-3 record and 3.52 ERA in 94.2 innings, time and again leaving batters flummoxed that they didn’t square him up. Along the way, he earned their grudging respect.

His July 30 acquisition in a deadline deal that sent Kevin Kiermaier to the Los Angeles Dodgers put an end to those feelings of torment, and with nearly two months together now, the Blue Jays are feeling something new for the crafty lefty — appreciation.

“He is such an undervalued piece in baseball,” pitching coach Pete Walker said Sunday before Yarbrough allowed one run over four innings of bulk work in a 4-3 loss to the Rays. “That kind of guy, you cannot find him. He gives you innings. He’s not afraid. He’s a professional. He goes about his business the right way. He’ll take the ball in any situation.

“I’ve enjoyed watching him from a distance in the past and now seeing him on our side, I realize how valuable he is to a rotation and a bullpen,” Walker continued. “For me, he’s like the glue between the cracks.”

Yarbrough’s certainly demonstrated that in his 11 appearances with the Blue Jays, with three of his past six outings coming in a bulk role on pre-planned bullpen days to ensure the rotation pitches with an extra day of rest. Seven times he’s gone at least two innings, topping out at five frames, and only once has he allowed more than one run.