The Toronto Blue Jays will be taking on their divisional rival Tampa Bay Rays in a Friday showdown. RSN Sports will televise the matchup and the game is slated to get going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Rays are 83-59 straight up (SU) and 71-70 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t strayed too far from expectations, losing 3.0 units for moneyline bettors and 8.6 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Blue Jays have gone 55-86 SU this year and are 70-70 ATS. In total, the club has lost 18.7 units for moneyline bettors and 5.0 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 67-67-7 in 2019. The Blue Jays have been a decent under bet with a total record of 63-70-7.
Clay Buchholz will get the start for the visiting Blue Jays. The right-handed Buchholz (1-3, 5.45 ERA) has racked up 18 punchouts in 36.1 innings so far. He’s 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA against Tampa Bay this year.
The Rays are countering with Brendan McKay (2-3, 5.55 ERA). McKay has 41 strikeouts and 12 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.49. McKay is 0-1 with eight strikeouts and a 5.40 ERA in one start against Toronto this year.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has yielded 4.0 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starters have an ERA of 3.50, a WHIP of 1.13 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.2. The bullpen has a 3.82 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 9.4 K/9. In 64 games against divisional foes, Rays starters have an ERA of 3.47 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.57.
The Tampa Bay hitters have put up 4.7 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .256/.339/.438 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Rays’ batters have been led by Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows. Pham is slashing .280/.379/.467 with 20 home runs, 61 RBIs, 67 runs and 20 steals, while Meadows has produced a line of .284/.352/.551 with 27 homers, 75 RBIs and 65 runs.
For the visiting squad, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.07 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.42 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.37, along with a WHIP of 1.48.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .235/.304/.424 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Toronto’s hitters have been paced by Freddy Galvis and Randal Grichuk. Galvis is hitting .267/.299/.444 with 18 home runs, 54 RBIs and 55 runs scored. Grichuk is hitting .230/.282/.430 with 24 homers, 62 RBIs and 63 runs scored.
The Rays have gained 0.3 units and are 43-47 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 45 of those games, as opposed to 40 that’ve gone under against righties.
Blue Jays vs. Rays MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in five of Toronto’s last seven games.
- The Blue Jays have an OPS of .728 this season, including an OPS of .734 against left-handed pitchers. The Rays’ OPS stands at .758 overall and .748 against lefties.
- The Blue Jays have lost six of their last seven games SU while the Rays have taken seven of their last eight.
- Tampa Bay has posted 22.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.0 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
