The Toronto Blue Jays will be taking on their divisional nemesis Tampa Bay Rays in a Wednesday showdown. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET and RSN Sports will televise the action.
Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Tampa Bay (receiving -200 odds) is the massive favorite against Toronto and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this one at 9 runs (-115 for the under and -105 for the over). Runline odds sit at -120 for picking the Blue Jays +1.5 runs and +100 for the Rays -1.5 runs.
The Rays are 66-49 straight up (SU) and 61-54 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle a lot for gamblers, losing 1.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 1.1 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total went over in six of those seven. The Blue Jays are 46-70 SU and have gone 58-58 ATS. In total, the club has lost 14.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 5.7 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven.
Rays games have an over/under record of 52-56-7 in 2019. The Blue Jays have an over/under record of 56-55-5.
Wilmer Font will get the start for the visiting Blue Jays. The right-handed Font is 3-2 with a 4.91 ERA and 53 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with three strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA against Tampa Bay this year.
The Rays will turn to lefty Brendan McKay (2-1, 4.38 ERA), who has 25 punchouts and two walks, along with a WHIP of 1.18. McKay hasn’t faced the Blue Jays yet this year and did not accrue any MLB pitching stats last season.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has given up 3.9 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 3.36 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.79 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 55 games against AL East foes, Rays starters have an ERA of 3.49 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.68.
The Tampa Bay offense is putting up 4.7 runs per outing, including 4.8 per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .282/.380/.514 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia have led the way for the Rays’ offense this year. Pham is hitting .272/.372/.452 with 16 home runs, 48 RBIs, 52 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Garcia’s line sits at .279/.339/.453 with 15 homers, 53 RBIs and 46 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 5.24 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 7.25 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.14, along with a K-per-9 of 9.41.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .237/.304/.420 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Toronto’s offense has been sparked by Freddy Galvis and Randal Grichuk, who have combined to launch 36 home runs. Galvis is slashing .270/.303/.451 with 18 home runs, 54 RBIs and 54 runs scored, while Grichuk (.239/.295/.425) is up to 18 homers, 49 RBIs and 51 runs scored.
The Blue Jays have gained 3.0 units and are 20-18 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 18 of those games, compared to 19 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 3.3 units and are 37-36 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 34 of those games, compared to 34 that’ve cashed the under.
Blue Jays vs. Rays Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Toronto has tallied 22 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Tampa Bay has 19 XBH over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have a team OPS of .724 this season, including an OPS of .728 when facing left-handed pitchers. The Rays’ OPS sits at .765 overall and .743 against southpaws.
- The Rays have won seven of their last eight games SU.
- Toronto has recorded 27.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 24.4 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have hit 22 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit 21 over their last 10.
