Aaron Sanchez (0-1, 8.10 ERA) and Chris Archer (1-1, 2.13 ERA) are on the hill in the last of a four-game series between the Toronto Blue Jays (5-4) and the Tampa Bay Rays (5-4) at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays won the last game 12-7 and Tampa Bay leads the series 2-1. Action begins at 7:07 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 16 and can be seen on SunSports and RSN.
Sanchez pitched 3.1 innings in his most recent start, surrendering three runs, striking out one and walking two in a 7-1 defeat to the Orioles. Devon Travis (.323 ) kept up his hot start yesterday, going 3 for 4 with one run, one home run, and two RBIs. Against the Blue Jays, Archer is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 48 strikeouts. Tim Beckham (.286 ) has been successful at the plate to the start the season, going 2 for 4 yesterday with one run.
Tampa Bay is a slim -113 favorite over Toronto. The matchup has an estimated Over/Under (O/U) of eight runs. The Blue Jays have an overall money line of +51 and a record as the underdog of 3-2. Toronto’s batters do not strike out very often at home, with only 4.3 per game.
In games where it is the favorite, Tampa Bay has a 1-1 record and an overall money line of +150. They are 1-1 as the favorite against fellow AL East members, and 3-3 SU. Offensively, the Rays have really sputtered in division games. They have decreased their season average of 4.4 runs per game by averaging 3.5 in those contests. The Rays are an excellent base stealing team with 10 stolen bases, ranking third in the MLB.
The Rays lead the season series, 2-1. The Blue Jays have a 4-4 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Archer takes the mound. Sanchez (RHP) will be on the hill against the Rays, who have a 4-2 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – TB, O/U – Over
Notes
Toronto is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto’s last 6 games at home.
Toronto is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay.
Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay has won 25% (1-3) of its games when leading after 7 innings. However, Toronto has won all of its games (2-0) when taking a late lead.
The Blue Jays managed to give up four walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Rays who are coming in with a 3-3 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Blue Jays are 0-2. The Rays have a 1-3 record when opponents outhit them.
Both Toronto and Tampa Bay are tied at ninth in home runs, hitting nine this season.
Toronto and Tampa Bay both rank in the top 10 of the league in hits. Toronto sits at sixth with 8.11 hits per game and Tampa Bay ranks eighth with 7.67.
Ranking 12th, Toronto is in the top half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.688). Tampa Bay ranks in the top 10 at eighth with an OPS of .729.
The Rays are 1-3 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Blue Jays are 5-2 when they allow at least one homer.
