The Toronto Blue Jays are set to face their AL East foe Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports Sun will televise the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Blue Jays have gone 30-37 SU this year and are 31-35 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 7.6 units for moneyline gamblers and 6.4 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 31-35 SU and 34-31 ATS. They’ve lost 4.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 1.2 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Neither team has positioned itself as a strong over/under bet this season. Rays games have an over/under record of 31-32-2 so far in 2018. Toronto has an over/under record of 30-28-8.
J.A. Happ will get the nod for the visiting Blue Jays. The left-handed Happ is 8-3 with a 3.71 ERA and 90 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with three strikeouts and a 4.76 ERA against Tampa Bay this year.
The Rays are sending righty Wilmer Font (0-3, 9.59 ERA) to the mound. Font has 23 strikeouts and nine walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.78. Font is 0-0 with two strikeouts and an 18.00 ERA against Toronto this year.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 4.2 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starters have an ERA of 4.11, a WHIP of 1.19 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.5. The bullpen has a 3.81 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9. In 29 games against divisional opponents, Rays starters have an ERA of 5.45 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.85.
Tampa Bay’s offense is putting up 4.1 runs per contest, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 5.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .267/.326/.422 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Rays’ batters have been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and first baseman C.J. Cron. Duffy is hitting .314/.350/.412 with 64 hits, 17 RBIs and 16 runs scored, while Cron’s line is .253/.329/.474 with 15 homers, 36 RBIs and 37 runs.
For the visitors, Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 5.06 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.11 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.93, along with a WHIP of 1.42 and a K-per-9 of 8.77.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .233/.312/.412 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game this year, including 3.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Right fielder Kevin Pillar and third baseman Yangervis Solarte continue to lead Toronto’s hitters. Pillar is hitting .262/.299/.440 with seven home runs, 27 RBIs, 33 runs and nine steals, while Solarte (.252/.309/.449) is up to 12 homers, 37 RBIs and 34 runs scored.
The Blue Jays have gained 3.2 units and are 19-21 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 20 of those games, compared to 16 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 0.3 units and are 13-9 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in eight of those games, compared to 13 that went under the total.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Toronto defense has allowed five errors over its last five games, compared to two errors for Tampa Bay over its last five.
The Blue Jays have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.
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