The Toronto Blue Jays will square off against their divisional rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The opening pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Sun will televise the matchup.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Toronto (+130) is coming into this one as the underdog against Tampa Bay (-140) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this one at 8 runs. The odds for betting on the games total stand at -130 for the under and +110 for the over. Gamblers can also bet on the games spread with the current runline odds coming in at Blue Jays +1.5 runs (-170) and Rays +-1.5 runs (+150).
The Blue Jays have gone 18-16 SU this year and are 18-15 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 1.9 units for moneyline gamblers over the early portions of the season and 2.9 units ATS. The Rays, on the other hand, are 15-16 SU and 17-13 ATS. They’ve lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 4.5 units ATS.
Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 17-12-1 so far in 2018. Toronto has an over/under record of 16-13-4.
Right-hander Marco Estrada will get the nod for Toronto. Estrada is 2-2 with a 6.19 ERA and 26 strikeouts. He has yet to face Tampa Bay this year, but he made four starts against the Rays in 2017, putting together a 0-4 record against them with a 10.61 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
The Rays are sending righty Chris Archer (2-2, 6.05 ERA) to the hill. Archer has 42 strikeouts and 12 walks to his name, as well as a 1.53 WHIP. Archer made five starts against the Blue Jays in 2017, compiling a 1-0 record with a 2.65 ERA and 44 strikeouts.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have given up 4.6 runs per game overall in 2018. The teams starters have a 4.10 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.58 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 8.7 K/9. In 16 divisional games, Rays starters have an ERA of 5.35 and the bullpens ERA is 4.16.
The Tampa Bay hitters are putting up 4.5 runs per contest, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .218/.303/.315 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Rays offense has been led by second baseman Daniel Robertson and outfielder Mallex Smith. Robertson is slashing .297/.447/.500 with 22 hits, eight RBIs and 14 runs scored, while Smith’s line is .337/.410/.427 with 30 hits, five RBIs, 11 runs and seven steals.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .270/.329/.355, Smith enjoyed hitting against righty pitching at home in 2017, hitting .305/.393/.429 across 122 plate appearances.
For the visitors, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 8.50 K/9. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.06, along with a WHIP of 1.46 and a K/9 of 9.03.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .234/.320/.431 on their way to 5.2 runs scored per game this year, including 3.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over the teams last five contests (1-4 SU).
Right fielder Kevin Pillar and third baseman Yangervis Solarte have led Toronto’s offense. Pillar is hitting .310/.359/.535 with four home runs, 16 RBIs, 22 runs and six stolen bases, while Solarte is hitting .268/.350/.537 with nine homers, 22 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
The Blue Jays have gained 2.7 units and are 10-11 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 10 of those games, compared to nine that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 3.0 units and are 8-10 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 11 of those games, compared to seven that went under the total.
Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in five of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- The Blue Jays have lost four of their last five games SU.
- Tampa Bay has posted 25.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.8 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have hit 19 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit 15 over their last 10.
