Drew Smyly (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and R.A. Dickey (0-1, 3.26 ERA) start in the first of a three-game series between the Tampa Bay Rays (8-8) and the Toronto Blue Jays (9-7) at Tropicana Field. Action begins at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 24 and can be seen on RSN and SunSports.
Smyly is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in his appearances against the Blue Jays, but goes up against a good Toronto offense which is batting .262 this season. Dickey is 6-6 with a 4.07 ERA when pitching against the Rays. He takes on a below-average Tampa Bay offense which is hitting just .228 this season. Josh Donaldson (.349, 13 Rs, 4 HRs, 13 RBIs) has been successful at the plate, going 2 for 4 yesterday with two runs, one home run, and two RBIs.
The odds for Tampa Bay and Toronto are even, while the Over/Under (O/U) is sitting at eight runs. Within its division, Tampa Bay has a record of 5-7 SU. The Rays have seen a decline in scoring against teams inside their division, averaging 3.2 runs per game. They average 3.9 runs per game on the season. Tampa Bay is one of the best in the MLB in terms of steals, swiping 13 bases. Crossing over to the pitching staff, opponents have consistently been struck out by the Rays, who lead the AL in strikeouts per home game with 9.2.
The Blue Jays are 7-5 against AL East opponents. Offensively, they average 5.8 runs per game, which is tops in the AL. The Blue Jays can change the game with one swing of the bat, leading the league with 22 home runs.
The Rays lead the season series, 3-1. The Rays have a 6-5 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Dickey takes the mound.
Predictions: SU Winner – TOR, O/U – Over
Notes
The Blue Jays won their last game by a one-run margin. In games decided by one run, the Rays are 3-4. The Blue Jays are 2-4 in close games this season.
When the Blue Jays play into extra innings, they have a 1-0 record. The Rays are 0-1 when their games exceed nine innings.
The Blue Jays are coming off of a hot pitching game where they recorded nine strikeouts. The Rays have a record of 3-4 when they are struck out that many times or more.
When they outhit their opponents, the Rays are 7-1. The Blue Jays have an 8-1 record when outhitting opponents.
Toronto tops the league in runs with 94 this season. Tampa Bay ranks in the bottom half at 20th with 60.
Ranking sixth, Toronto is in the top 10 of the league in walks, notching 57 this season. Tampa Bay ranks in the top five at third with 63.
The Rays are 5-6 in games where they hit one or more home runs. The Blue Jays are 8-1 when they hit at least one homer.
