J.A. Happ (5-0, 2.05 ERA) and Drew Smyly (1-4, 3.63 ERA) start in the first of a three-game series between the Toronto Blue Jays (19-20) and the Tampa Bay Rays (16-19) at the Rogers Centre. Action begins at 7:07 p.m. ET on Monday, May. 16 and can be seen on RSN and SUN.
Happ pitched 8.2 innings in his most recent start, surrendering zero runs, striking out five and walking three in a 4-0 win over the Giants. Michael Saunders (.328, 17 Rs, 5 HRs, 12 RBIs) had another good game yesterday, going 2 for 5 with one RBI. Smyly went 5.0 innings, surrendering six runs and striking out five in a 6-4 defeat to the Mariners in his last outing. Brandon Guyer (.338, 13 Rs, 4 HRs, 11 RBIs) has been successful at the plate for the Rays, going 2 for 4 yesterday with two runs, two home runs, and five RBIs.
The odds for Toronto and Tampa Bay are even, while the Over/Under (O/U) is currently not available. Within its division, Toronto has a record of 8-10 SU. The Blue Jays have seen an uptick in scoring as of late, averaging 0.0 runs during the last 10 games compared to their season average of 0.0 runs per game. Toronto’s batters do not strike out very often at home, with only 8.6 per game. As for the Toronto defense and pitching staff, it’s been a struggle for opposing teams to score runs against the Blue Jays. The 0.0 runs that Toronto’s pitchers allow per game makes them the fifth-ranked staff in the AL.
The Rays are 10-10 against teams in their division. Offensively, the Rays have really picked up the pace in the last 10 games. They have exceeded their season average of 0.0 runs per game by averaging 0.0 during that stretch. The Rays can change the game with one swing of the bat, ranking fourth in the league with 50 home runs. The Rays allow 0.0 runs per game, but have improved upon those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 0.0 runs per game during that span. When it comes to preventing batters from getting on base, the Rays are one of the best in the league with a WHIP of 1.168 for the season.
The Blue Jays lead the season series, 4-3.
Predictions: SU Winner – TOR
Notes
In their last game, the Rays lost by a margin of one run. The Blue Jays are 3-10 in one-run games. The Rays have a 3-4 record in close games.
The Blue Jays managed to give up five walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Rays who are coming in with a 4-2 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Rays are 2-13. The Blue Jays have a 4-13 record when opponents outhit them.
Toronto ranks in the top 10 of the league when it comes to home runs, hitting 45 this season. Tampa Bay ranks in the top five at fourth with 50.
Ranking 30th, Tampa Bay is at the bottom of the league in hits, notching 7.31 per game. Toronto ranks near the bottom at 23rd with 7.95.
Toronto and Tampa Bay both rank in the bottom half of the league for their on-base plus slugging percentage. Toronto sits at 18th with an OPS of .719, and Tampa Bay ranks 19th with an OPS of .704.
When the Rays allow at least one home run, they are 5-18. When the Blue Jays allow one or more homers, they have a 10-13 record.
