The Toronto Blue Jays will play their division rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports Sun will be airing the matchup and the game is scheduled to get going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Rays are 30-35 SU and 33-31 ATS. They’ve lost 5.5 units for moneyline bettors while earning 0.2 units against the spread (ATS). Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total went over in four of those seven. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have gone 30-36 SU this year and are 31-34 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 6.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.4 units ATS. Toronto is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.
Neither team has positioned itself as an obvious over/under play this year. Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 30-32-2 so far in 2018. The Blue Jays have an over/under record of 29-28-8.
Left-hander Jaime Garcia will get the start for Toronto. Garcia is 2-4 with a 5.57 ERA and 50 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-0, 1.93 ERA and four strikeouts across 4.2 innings).
The Rays will turn to righty Ryne Stanek (1-1, 3.14 ERA), who has 18 strikeouts and nine walks to his name as well as a 1.19 WHIP. Stanek did not record a start against the Blue Jays in 2017.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have given up 4.3 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.14, a WHIP of 1.20 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.5. The bullpen has a 3.88 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. In 28 games against AL East opponents, Rays starters have an ERA of 5.54 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.98.
The Tampa Bay hitters have put up 4.1 runs per contest, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 5.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .275/.324/.443 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Matt Duffy and first baseman C.J. Cron have paced the Rays’ batters this year. Duffy is hitting .320/.357/.420 with 64 hits, 17 RBIs and 15 runs scored, while Cron’s line is .256/.330/.480 with 15 homers, 36 RBIs and 36 runs.
In the other dugout, Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 5.03 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.12 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.98, along with a WHIP of 1.41.
The Blue Jays offense has slashed .234/.313/.415 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game this season, including 3.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Toronto’s hitters have been led by right fielder Kevin Pillar and third baseman Yangervis Solarte, who’ve collectively launched 19 home runs. Pillar is slashing .262/.300/.444 with seven home runs, 27 RBIs, 33 runs and nine stolen bases, while Solarte (.256/.314/.456) 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 hit in 20 of those games, compared to 16 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 0.3 units and are 13-9 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in eight of those games, compared to 13 which went under the total.
Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
Toronto has posted 23.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 31.8 over its last five.
The Blue Jays have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
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