Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
The odds are dependent on Tampa Bay’s starting pitcher.
Blue Jays vs Rays June 30th Betting Analysis
Because this is Tampa Bay’s first visit of the season to Toronto, we don’t really know which players might not be allowed to cross the border regarding COVID vaccination status (update: it now appears two relievers will not travel). It’s a five-game series because the clubs will play a day/night doubleheader on Saturday.
The Rays took two of three vs. Toronto from May 13-15 in St. Petersburg. The Jays hit .188 in the series with seven runs scored. Matt Chapman and Alejandro Kirk were each 1-for-10 in it. Santiago Espinal was 4-for-9 and Raimel Tapia 3-for-7. Brandon Lowe was 3-for-7 with two doubles for Tampa Bay but is hurt now. Yandy Diaz had the lone Rays homer.
Tampa Bay has been hit hard by injuries this season with Lowe, catcher Mike Zunino, outfielders Manuel Margot and Kevin Kiermaier and a few starting pitchers and relievers all out – closer Andrew Kittredge is done for the year. Young star shortstop Wander Franco returned from an IL stint on Sunday. It sounds like Kiermaier, a terrific defender, will be back Friday. Overall, the Rays have 14 players on the injured list, most in the AL.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are in a stretch of 10 games in nine days and 20 games in 20 days before the All-Star break. Tampa Bay is 9-15 in series openers and 3-6-2 in its past 11 series after a 7-2-0 stretch. The Rays just lost two of three at home to the Brewers. Originally it was to be former two-time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber (3-4, 3.45 ERA) on the mound Thursday, but he will now pitch Friday. Lefty Jeffrey Springs (3-2, 2.25) is the likely starter for Thursday (one never knows with the Rays), yet another successful reclamation project for the franchise, although he can be prone to allowing a home run. He threw 4.2 scoreless innings at home vs. the Jays on May 15 in a no-decision. Matt Chapman has seen him the most of any Toronto batter career and is 1-for-10. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 1-for-6 with a homer – the only active Blue Jay to go deep off Springs.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto signed veteran reliever Sergio Romo to a one-year contract on Wednesday, and he was added to the active roster – but he didn’t pitch in the 6-5 extra-inning loss to Boston. The 39-year-old has had a fine career but was awful in 17 games for the Mariners this year before being released. Shaun Anderson was sent down as part of a move to make room for Romo on the roster. Lefty Yusei Kikuchi (2-4, 5.08 ERA) in scheduled to pitch for Toronto, and he would have to be called a free-agent disappointment thus far. The 31-year-old lasted only two innings in his most recent start at Milwaukee, allowing five runs (two homers) and six hits in a loss. Kikuchi hasn’t personally won since May 16 at home vs. Seattle and didn’t face the Rays in the first series. Randy Arozarena is 2-for-6 with a homer off him. Yandy Diaz is 0-for-6 with three strikeouts.
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