The Toronto Blue Jays will play their divisional foe Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Sun will televise the action.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Rays are 89-72 straight up (SU) and 90-70 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 22.2 units for moneyline bettors and 21.3 units (ATS). The Blue Jays are 73-88 SU and have gone 71-89 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 7.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 29.0 units ATS.
Rays games have had an over/under record of 72-83-5 in 2018. The Blue Jays have been a decent over bet with a total record of 80-71-9.
The right-handed Sam Gaviglio is projected to start for Toronto. Gaviglio is 3-9 with a 5.19 ERA and 102 strikeouts. He’s 0-2 with 12 strikeouts and a 5.27 ERA against Tampa Bay this year (three starts).
The Rays are putting the ball in the hands of righty Ryne Stanek (2-3, 3.08 ERA), who has 78 strikeouts and 27 walks, as well as a 1.10 WHIP. Stanek is 0-0 with 10 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA across five starts against Toronto this year.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have an ERA of 3.69, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.6. The bullpen has a 3.80 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.3 K/9. In 75 games against AL East opponents, Rays starters have an ERA of 4.91 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.84.
The Tampa Bay hitters have produced 4.4 runs per contest, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .236/.320/.391 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Rays’ hitters have been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and second baseman Joey Wendle. Duffy is hitting .294/.361/.366 with four home runs, 44 RBIs and 59 runs scored, and Wendle’s line is .300/.354/.436 with seven homers, 59 RBIs, 61 runs and 15 steals.
For the visiting squad, Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 5.12 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.51 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.41, along with a WHIP of 1.43 and a K/9 of 9.09.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .244/.314/.427 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Toronto’s hitters have been led by right fielder Kevin Pillar and first baseman Justin Smoak, who collectively have belted 40 home runs. Pillar is slashing .248/.278/.420 with 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, 64 runs and 14 steals, while Smoak is hitting .242/.350/.457 with 25 homers, 77 RBIs and 67 runs scored.
Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Toronto has logged 17 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Tampa Bay has 14 XBH over its last five.
Toronto has recorded 19.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.2 over its last five.
The Blue Jays have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit nine over their last 10.
