Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
It’s first place in the AL East against last as the Tampa Bay Rays, though now scuffling, open a four-game series Monday night at the Blue Jays. Toronto is a -155 favourite on the MLB odds behind All-Star ace Dylan Cease. The total is 7.5 runs.
MLB Betting Odds and Trends
Now that we are in the first full week of MLB action after the All-Star break, the trade rumours will really start to heat up ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. AL East-leading Tampa Bay is expected to be a major buyer and not worry too much about adding salary, which is a change from years past for that penny-pinching organization. But it is under new ownership, which is trying to create enough goodwill to get a new stadium built.
Toronto presumably will be a buyer as well, but if the Jays slip any further back in the AL Wild-Card race by the start of August, perhaps that changes things. Right now, the Blue Jays are +410 long shots to return to the playoffs. They are only 4.5 games out of the final spot but also a lot of teams ahead.
Tampa Bay leads the season series 5-1, including winning two of three at Rogers Centre from May 11-13. Andres Gimenez is one of the few Blue Jays with good offensive splits in the series at .316 with two homers and six RBIs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is only 2-for-19 with four strikeouts.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have lost a season-high five in a row after being swept at red-hot Boston on Sunday, 6-1. It’s Tampa Bay’s first five-game skid since April 2-8, 2025, and it has now been swept four times this year.
The pitching staff had been a major strength, but that group has allowed five or more runs in each of the last five games. Offensively, Yandy Díaz is second in the American League with a .310 average but was just 1-for-16 in the Red Sox series.
Nick Martinez (8-2, 2.65 ERA) is on the mound Monday, and the 35-year-old journeyman was a first-time All-Star this year. He pitched a scoreless inning in the game last Tuesday — his most recent time on the mound.
Martinez hasn’t personally lost since June 3. He beat visiting Toronto on May 4, allowing a run and five hits over five innings. George Springer has had some success off him at 6-for-17 with two home runs. Tampa Bay is 0-6 in its past six road games.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto’s offence went largely quiet out of the All-Star break in losing two of three at home to the White Sox and totalling five runs – four of those coming Friday. Just four hits in being blanked Sunday.
“Everyone’s looking to put the ball in play,” manager John Schneider told the media after Sunday’s loss. “We need some guys to drive the ball. Hit some doubles. Hit some home runs. It’s going to be tough to stack some wins unless you’re doing that, but I know this group is capable of doing it.”
Ace right-hander Dylan Cease (6-4, 2.56 ERA) is on the mound Monday, and his past two outings were quite memorable. Last Tuesday, he was the starting pitcher and winner for the AL in the All-Star Game with a scoreless inning.
And in his last regular-season start on July 8 in San Francisco, Cease took a no-hitter into the ninth but lost it immediately and was pulled after a whopping 118 pitches. He took a no-decision on May 13 at home vs. the Rays, allowing a run over seven. Toronto is 3-9 in its past 12 at home.
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