The Tampa Bay Rays will be taking on their AL East rival Toronto Blue Jays in a Saturday showdown. RSN Sports will be airing the action and the first pitch will be at 3:07 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Odds
The Blue Jays are 39-66 straight up (SU) and 49-55 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 17.6 units for moneyline bettors and 11.8 units ATS. Toronto has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 59-47 SU and have gone 55-50 against the spread. Overall, the team’s lost 6.7 units for moneyline gamblers and 0.8 units ATS. Tampa Bay is 3-5 ATS over its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.
Toronto games have an over/under record of 50-51-3 in 2019. Tampa Bay has been a decent under bet with a total record of 44-54-7.
The right-handed Andrew Kittredge is the probable starter for Tampa Bay. Kittredge (1-0, 2.55 ERA) has recorded 19 strikeouts in 17.2 innings so far. He has yet to face the Blue Jays this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-0, 6.75 ERA and five strikeouts across four innings).
The Blue Jays are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Ryan Borucki (0-1, 3.86 ERA), who has three strikeouts and four walks, along with a 2.36 WHIP. Borucki made three starts against the team in 2018, compiling a 0-3 record in 2018, putting together a 0-3 record with a 3.66 ERA and 15 strikeouts.
As a unit, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game overall in 2019. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.34, a WHIP of 1.53 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 4.20 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. In 41 games against divisional foes, Blue Jays starters have an ERA of 5.13 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.87.
The Toronto hitters have put up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.7 per game against divisional foes and 1.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .149/.220/.266 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Blue Jays’ batters have been led by Freddy Galvis and Randal Grichuk. Galvis is hitting .267/.302/.442 with 15 home runs, 48 RBIs and 47 runs scored, and Grichuk’s line is .227/.286/.401 with 16 homers, 43 RBIs and 44 runs.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.17 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.11 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.79, along with a K-per-9 of 9.03.
The Rays offense has slashed .251/.325/.424 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been paced by outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia. Pham is slashing .272/.372/.456 with 16 home runs, 45 RBIs, 48 runs and 12 stolen bases, while Garcia (.272/.332/.433) has produced 13 homers, 46 RBIs, 43 runs and nine stolen bases.
The Rays have gained 0.5 units and are 22-17 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over’s hit in 15 of those games, compared to 22 that’ve gone under against righties.
Rays vs. Blue Jays Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in three of Toronto’s last seven games.
- The Rays have a total OPS of .749 this season, including an OPS of .711 when facing left-handed pitchers. The Blue Jays’ OPS stands at .703 overall and .715 against lefties.
- The Blue Jays have dropped four of their last five games SU.
- Tampa Bay has recorded 15.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 16.4 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays have hit 12 over their last 10.
