MLB Betting: The Toronto Blue Jays visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday with the home team listed as a slight favorite. Both teams have fallen out of the playoff race and it could be that both teams finish with losing records this season. Here is a look at this matchup for Thursday and MLB predictions.
Probable Pitchers – Mark Buehrle vs. Jake Odorizzi
One of the problems for the Blue Jays has been their pitching. Mark Buehrle was great early in the season but he has not pitched well in the last couple of months. He allowed four runs on seven hits last time out against the Yankees. He is now 11-9 on the season with a 3.50 ERA. Those numbers don’t sound bad but he has just one win in his last 15 starts and his ERA is 4.83. In his last three starts he is 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA. He is 10-5 in his career against the Rays with a 4.19 ERA.
Jake Odorizzi is 10-11 on the season with a 4.03 ERA but he his coming off an outstanding effort last time out as he allowed no runs and just one hit against the Red Sox. He is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA this season against the Blue Jays and in his career he has thrown 11.2 innings against them.
Game Notes
This is the finale of a three-game series between the teams. They had split their previous ten meetings before the series started. The Rays had taken six of the last ten at home with the last three meetings in Tampa having a combined 9 runs or less scored in each game.
The Rays have been a poor team this season at home. They were just 30-37 in their first 67 home games. If they had been able to win at home they would be a contender in the AL Wild Card race. The team is 8th in ERA in the league but just 21st in runs scored.
MLB Predictions
The Blue Jays simply don’t win anymore when Buehrle is on the mound. We’ll look for the Rays to win this one at home and for the game to go over the total.
