The Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays meet Thursday in MLB action from Rogers Centre. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Blue Jays vs Rays Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Tampa Bay Rays will send out Zack Littell for the start here and Littell is 2-5 with a 4.40 ERA and 30 strikeouts this season. In his career, Littell is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts against the Blue Jays. The Toronto Blue Jays will send Kevin Gausman to the mound here and Gausman is 3-3 with a 3.97 ERA and 40 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Rays, Gausman is 1-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 32 strikeouts.
Tampa Bay Rays Recap
The Tampa Bay Rays will be out to bounce back from a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Blue Jays last time out to fall to 19-23 on the year. After this series, the Rays will head on the road for a series against the Miami Marlins.
Rays Alternate Wins & Losses In Each Of Their Last Four Games
Jonathan Aranda has 41 hits with a team-high 9 doubles, 6 home runs and 20 RBIs. Brandon Lowe has 30 hits with 5 homers and 20 RBIs as well while Junior Caminero has 38 hits with 6 doubles, a team-high 8 home runs and 20 RBIs. Yandy Diaz has 38 hits with 8 doubles, 6 homers and 20 RBIs and Kameron Misner has 29 hits with 7 doubles, 3 homers and 12 RBIs as well while Christopher Morel has a team-high 46 strikeouts as well this season. Jose Caballero has 9 stolen bases while Taylor Walls has 5 stolen bases and Chandler Simpson has 7 stolen bases as well this season.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Rays have won each of their last nine games as underdogs against AL East opponents following a road loss.
- The Blue Jays have lost each of their last seven games as favorites against AL East opponents following a win.
- The Blue Jays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 10 games as favorites against AL East opponents following a win.
- The Rays have covered the run line in each of their last nine games against AL East opponents following a road loss.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in four of his last eight appearances against the Blue Jays after playing the previous day.
- Taylor Walls has scored at least one run in each of his last eight Thursday appearances with the Rays as underdogs.
- Ha-Seong Kim has recorded at least one hit in each of his eight previous appearances with his team as a road underdog against AL East opponents.
- Ha-Seong Kim has recorded at least one Single in seven of his eight previous appearances with his team as a road underdog against AL East opponents.
- Josh Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last three road appearances against the Blue Jays.
- Jonathan Aranda ranks 4th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.430) this season.
Toronto Blue Jays Recap
The Toronto Blue Jays will be out to add on to their win over the Rays from Wednesday’s matchup to improve to 21-21 on the year. After this series, the Blue Jays will welcome the Detroit Tigers to town for a weekend series.
Blue Jays Win Five Of Last Six
George Springer has 36 hits and Bo Bichette has 50 hits with Springer adding 5 home runs, a triple, 10 doubles and 18 RBIs while Bichette has 13 doubles and 21 RBIs. Andres Gimenez has added 25 hits with 5 doubles and 3 home runs and 10 RBIs this season along with 9 stolen bases while Anthony Santander has a team-high 41 strikeouts so far this season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also has 4 homers, 8 doubles and 19 RBIs while Springer also has a .288 batting average up to this point in the year.
Why the Toronto Blue Jays will win
- The Blue Jays have won each of their last five games after playing the previous day.
- The Rays have lost each of their last five Thursday day games.
- The Blue Jays have covered the run line each of their last eight day games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last three games after playing the previous day.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- George Springer has recorded a Double in four of the Blue Jays’ last five day games.
- Daulton Varsho has hit at least one home run in three of the Blue Jays’ last four games against AL East opponents.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Blue Jays’ last eight day games against AL teams that held a losing record.
- Kevin Gausman has recorded a win in each of his last seven appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has scored at least one run in seven of the Blue Jays’ last eight games.
- Kevin Gausman has recorded six or more strikeouts in nine of his last 10 appearances with his team as a favorite against the Rays.
- Daulton Varsho has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine home appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Bo Bichette has recorded at least one Single in each of his last nine Thursday appearances against AL teams that held a losing record.
- George Springer ranks 9th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.400) this season.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Blue Jays’ last eight day games against American League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Rays’ last four games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
Blue Jays vs Rays Prediction
I’m on the Blue Jays in this one. I’ll give Littell some credit, he’s been solid on the road compared to his numbers at home, but the thing here is that the Blue Jays have started to really pick it up offensively as of late. Side-by-side, I just think the Blue Jays are the better team. I think the Jays take care of business and pick up another series win here. Give me the Jays in this one.