The Toronto Blue Jays will play host to their division foe Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre. The action will begin at 1:07 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to Fox Sports Sun.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Tampa Bay (-170) is favored over Toronto (+160) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 8 runs (-110 for the under and -110 for the over). Runline odds stand at -120 for taking the Rays -1.5 runs and +100 for the Blue Jays +1.5.
The Blue Jays are 71-84 straight up (SU) and 68-86 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 8.2 units for moneyline bettors and 28.9 units (ATS). Toronto has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Rays have gone 86-68 SU this year and are 88-65 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 25.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 25.1 units ATS. Tampa Bay’s covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Blue Jays games have an over/under record of 79-66-9 in 2018. The Rays have been a decent under bet with a total record of 68-80-5.
Left-hander Blake Snell is the probable starter for the visiting Rays. Snell is 20-5 with a 1.97 ERA and 200 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Toronto this year.
The Blue Jays are planning to start lefty Ryan Borucki (4-4, 3.86 ERA), who’s got 57 strikeouts and 26 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.33. Borucki is 0-1 with five strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA in one start against Tampa Bay this year.
As a unit, Toronto’s pitching staff has given up 5.1 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 5.11, a WHIP of 1.43 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.6. The bullpen has a 4.49 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 72 games against divisional foes, Blue Jays starters have an ERA of 4.73 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.35.
The Toronto hitters have put up 4.4 runs per outing, including 3.9 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .247/.290/.464 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Blue Jays’ hitters have been led by outfielder Kevin Pillar and first baseman Justin Smoak. Pillar is slashing .247/.277/.417 with 14 home runs, 56 RBIs, 62 runs and 14 steals, while Smoak is hitting .244 with 25 homers, 77 RBIs and 66 runs.
For the visiting squad, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 3.9 runs per game and its starters own a 3.62 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 9.39 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.66, along with a K-per-9 of 8.24.
Rays hitters have slashed .260/.337/.408 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this year, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been paced by third baseman Matt Duffy and second baseman Joey Wendle. The speedy Duffy is slashing .297/.361/.369 with four home runs, 44 RBIs and 58 runs scored, while Wendle (.300/.353/.436) has produced seven homers, 56 RBIs, 57 runs and 15 stolen bases.
The Rays have gained 11.6 units and are 26-16 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 15 of those games, as opposed to 25 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have lost 18.4 units and are 21-29 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 24 of those games, as opposed to 21 which went under the total.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
Tampa Bay has recorded 22 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Toronto has 18 XBH over its last five.
The Rays have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays have hit 16 over their last 10.
Toronto has recorded 21.1 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 contests and 21.2 over its last five.
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