Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
It looks to be a terrific starting pitching matchup Monday night from Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays welcome the AL East-rival Tampa Bay Rays for the first time this season to open a three-game series. Toronto is a -135 favourite on the MLB odds with a total of 7.5 runs.
Betting Analysis
If it seems like the Rays and Blue Jays just played, that’s because the AL East rivals had a three-game set in St. Petersburg, Fla., to open last week. Tampa Bay swept, each game low scoring. Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda had a big series at 5-for-9 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. He is among the AL RBI leaders with 29.
Chandler Simpson was 4-for-12 with two runs scored and a stolen base. The 25-year-old outfielder has no power whatsoever but might be the fastest player in the majors. If he gets on first base, Simpson is most likely going to try and steal second and maybe third, too. He has swiped 12 bases so far. The Rays are currently leading the AL East by a game but are +550 second favourites behind the New York Yankees (-360), who are a game back.
Toronto sits third, 8.5 games back, and is +1500 to repeat in the division. Not many Blue Jays had much hitting success in that first series as the team hit a collective .218 with just four RBIs. Rookie third baseman Kazuma Okamoto had a solid series, going 4-for-11 with a solo homer and two walks. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 1-for-9 with two strikeouts.
The Blue Jays were 4-2 at home vs. the Rays last season.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays won yet another series on Sunday in Boston with a 4-1 victory and have taken 14 of their past 16 on the back of their pitching. Just once in that stretch has Tampa Bay allowed more than three runs in a game. Bryan Baker has been excellent out of the bullpen and got his 10th save of the season Sunday but should be available Monday if needed.
The Rays are 8-1 vs. AL East foes and turn to Drew Rasmussen on the mound. The righty has been one of the more dependable starting pitchers in the AL for a handful of years and is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in seven starts this year.
Rasmussen took a no-decision last Tuesday vs. Toronto, allowing three runs and seven hits over six innings. He left trailing, but the Rays rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth in a 4-3 win.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has had some career success against Rasmussen at 6-for-24 with two doubles and a homer, but George Springer is just 2-for-18 off him with four Ks. The under is 5-1 in Tampa Bay’s past six away games.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays won their first series of this homestand by taking two of three over the weekend vs. the Angels, dropping the finale 6-1 on Sunday as the offence went quiet against Halos ace Jose Soriano.
Rookie third baseman Kazuma Okamoto was a bright spot in the defeat, going 1-for-4 with an RBI double to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Outfielder Addison Barger was scratched prior to the game with a sore elbow and was due an MRI. It has been an utterly terrible and injury-plagued season for Barger.
Righty Kevin Gausman (2-2, 3.09 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) takes the mound tonight. He had a quality start last Tuesday at the Rays in allowing two runs and six hits over six but took a no-decision when the bullpen blew his lead.
Tampa Bay’s Yandy Diaz is 7-for-15 career off him with a homer and four RBIs. Gausman has been much better at home this year with a 1.88 ERA in four starts. The under is 5-2 in the Jays’ past seven overall.
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