The Toronto Blue Jays will head south to take on their divisional rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The matchup will begin at 7:10 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to Fox Sports Sun.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Vegas has listed Toronto (-145) as the favorite over Tampa Bay (+135). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +105 for over 8.5 runs and -125 for under 8.5. You can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds coming in at Blue Jays -1.5 runs (+100) and Rays 1.5 runs (-120).
The Rays are 13-16 SU and 16-13 ATS. They’ve lost 3.0 units for moneyline bettors while earning 3.5 units against the spread (ATS). The Blue Jays, on the other hand, have gone 18-14 SU this year and are 17-13 ATS. In total, the team’s accumulated 2.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline in the season’s early going and 4.5 units ATS.
Rays games have a 17-12 over/under record so far in 2018. The Blue Jays have an over/under record of 14-13-3.
The left-handed J.A. Happ is projected to start for the visiting Blue Jays. Happ is 4-1 with a 3.50 ERA and 50 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rays will put the ball in the right hand of Andrew Kittredge (1-2, 6.23 ERA, 1.62 WHIP), who’s got seven punchouts and five walks this season. Kittredge did not record a start against the Blue Jays in 2017.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has given up 4.7 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 4.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.78 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 8.6 K/9. In 14 divisional games, Rays starters have an ERA of 5.71 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.43.
The Tampa Bay offense has put up 4.5 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .264/.316/.412 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Rays’ hitters have been led by second baseman Daniel Robertson and catcher Wilson Ramos. Robertson is slashing .310/.456/.521 with 22 hits, eight RBIs and 14 runs scored, and the line for Ramos stands at .313/.368/.525 with four homers, 14 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .260/.290/.447, Ramos appeared to enjoy facing lefties at home last year, hitting .414/.419/.724 across 31 plate appearances.
In the other dugout, Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starters own a 5.61 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 8.65 K/9. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.00, along with a WHIP of 1.44.
The Blue Jays offense has slashed .237/.326/.436 on its way to 5.4 runs scored per game this year, including 3.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Outfielder Kevin Pillar and third baseman Yangervis Solarte have led Toronto’s offense. Pillar is hitting .322/.373/.562 with four home runs, 16 RBIs, 22 runs and six stolen bases, while Solarte is hitting .287/.371/.574 with nine homers, 22 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
The Blue Jays have lost 0.8 units and are 8-4 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in six of those games, compared to four that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 0.0 units and are 8-3 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in six of those games, compared to five that went under the total.
Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in five of Toronto’s last seven games.
The Rays have lost three of their last four games SU.
Toronto has recorded 23.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 26.6 over its last five.
Both teams have hit 19 home runs over their last 10 outings.
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