The Toronto Blue Jays will head south to square off against their divisional rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. RSN Sports will televise the action and the game is scheduled to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Vegas has listed Tampa Bay (-240) as the favorite over Toronto (+220). The total stands at eight runs and bettors can wager on the over for -105 and the under for -115. The game’s current runline odds stand at +100 for picking the Blue Jays +1.5 runs and -120 for the Rays -1.5.
The Rays are 65-48 straight up (SU) and 60-52 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t strayed too far from expectations, losing 1.4 units for moneyline bettors while earning 2.3 units ATS. The Blue Jays are 45-69 SU and have gone 56-57 against the spread. In total, the team’s lost 14.1 units for moneyline gamblers and 6.6 units ATS.
Rays games have an over/under record of 50-55-7 in 2019. The Blue Jays have an over/under record of 55-54-4.
Jacob Waguespack is getting the start for the visiting Blue Jays. The right-handed Waguespack is 2-1 with a 4.80 ERA and 24 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with nine strikeouts and a 5.00 ERA against Tampa Bay this year.
The Rays will put the ball in the right hand of Charlie Morton (12-3, 2.78 ERA), who’s got 165 strikeouts and 43 walks this season as well as a 1.07 WHIP. Morton is 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 1.93 ERA in one start against Toronto this year.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 3.9 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starters have an ERA of 3.33, a WHIP of 1.09 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.1. The bullpen has a 3.84 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 53 games against AL East opponents, Rays starters have an ERA of 3.43 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.84.
The Tampa Bay offense has put up 4.8 runs per contest, including 4.8 per game against divisional foes and 7.6 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .315/.410/.613 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.
Outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia have led the charge for the Rays’ offense this year. Pham is slashing .275/.376/.458 with 16 home runs, 48 RBIs, 52 runs and 13 stolen bases, and Garcia’s line is .279/.338/.447 with 14 homers, 51 RBIs and 45 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 5.24 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 7.28 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.19, along with a WHIP of 1.51.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .237/.305/.420 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game this year, including 5.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Toronto’s hitters have been paced by Freddy Galvis and Randal Grichuk, who have combined to launch 36 home runs. Galvis is slashing .271/.305/.456 with 18 home runs, 54 RBIs and 54 runs scored. Grichuk (.236/.293/.424) has produced 18 homers, 49 RBIs and 50 runs scored.
The Blue Jays have lost 17.1 units and are 36-39 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 37 of those games, compared to 35 that’ve gone under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 1.8 units and are 37-34 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 33 of those games, as opposed to 33 which went under the total.
Blue Jays at Rays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in just one of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- The Blue Jays have an OPS of .725 this season and an OPS of .723 against right-handed pitchers. The Rays’ OPS sits at .766 overall and .773 against righties.
- The Rays have won eight of their last nine games SU.
- Tampa Bay has posted 27.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 30.4 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have hit 25 home runs in their last 10 games, including 13 over their last five.
