Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays Series Preview and Odds

Two of the more disappointing baseball teams in the American League match up this week north of the border as the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Toronto Blue Jays. Both teams were expected to contend for the AL East crown this season but things have not gone well.

The Rays have hovered around .500 for months and the Blue Jays are nine games under. They look like potential sellers.

• If you’re doing some Rays vs Blue Jays betting, the Blue Jays are -140 moneyline favorites and +155 runline favorites for Tuesday night’s opener.
• The total is 8.5 runs.

Tampa Bay is coming off a series split against the Yankees. They’re going to need to start winning series soon, though, as they’re 5.5 games out in the race for the third AL Wild Card spot.

The Rays just can’t seem to find any semblance of consistency, whether it’s on the mound or at the plate, and it has resulted in lots of stretches where they take a step forward only to immediately take a step back.

This is a big spot for them to capitalize against a Blue Jays team that is all alone at the bottom of the division standings. MLB picks and parlays including Toronto have not done well.

Toronto just dropped two of three to the Tigers and if something doesn’t change soon, then the Blue Jays could offload a lot of pieces at next week’s trade deadline.

They’re 10 games off the pace in the Wild Card chase and won’t have Bo Bichette this week as he’s on the MLB injured list with a strained calf. Nothing has gone right for Toronto, from an underwhelming lineup to a so-so rotation to a really bad bullpen. If the Blue Jays are going to save their season, it has to start right now.

Rays’ Lineup Is Very Top Heavy

Outside of Isaac Paredes and Brandon Lowe, most of the Rays’ lineup has been much less productive than expected. Randy Arozarena has bounced back a bit from a dreadful start to the MLB season but he still hasn’t provided nearly enough offense.

Yandy Díaz has been solid yet he likely won’t play on Tuesday (or maybe the whole series) because he is tending to a personal matter and is on the restricted list. Ben Rortvedt, Amed Rosario and Richie Palacios have all been good in part-time roles, not enough to heavily swing the Rays vs Blue Jays betting.

• So, it’s not a surprise that Tampa Bay has scored the fourth-fewest runs in the Majors, is 25th in OPS and is 26th in home runs.

It’s very difficult for the Rays to generate offense and while they have stolen the fifth-most bases in baseball, stolen bases only mean so much if guys aren’t on base often and, once they are, they aren’t being driven in. Only two Rays have more than 35 RBIs at the moment which, 100 games into the season, is jarring.

While Tampa Bay may have had legitimate World Series odds last season and before this campaign, those have pretty much evaporated by now.

They just don’t have enough offensive juice to be a contender with a pitching staff that is far from the elite group it has been in recent years.

Blue Jays’ Rotation Can Get By

While the Toronto lineup has been just as frustrating as Tampa Bay’s, the Blue Jays’ saving grace for this series if that their three best starters this season — José Berríos, Yariel Rodríguez and Chris Bassitt — are scheduled to throw.

The pitching matchups favor Toronto and that’s why the Rays vs Blue Jays betting odds like the Blue Jays to win Tuesday’s MLB game.

Toronto is 18th in starter ERA, due in large to the struggles of usual standouts Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi. But, Berríos and Bassitt have been consistently good, provide length and take the mound each time through the rotation.

Berríos has had a major home run problem — he has given up 21 longballs, the most in baseball — yet the Rays don’t hit many, so it may not be an issue tonight.

Rodríguez has only made eight starts because of his late signing and a back injury. However, he has been really good as of late, pitching to a 1.62 ERA in his last three outings.

Meanwhile, the Rays will be using a bullpen game Tuesday after starter Ryan Pepiot was placed on the injured list with a right knee infection. That’s another reason to like the Blue Jays.

Side With Toronto And Berríos

Even with their ugly record and recent struggles, the Blue Jays are one of the MLB best bets in this game.

• You can take them straight-up as -140 moneyline favorites or you can go for the value and nab them -1.5 runs at +155.

The latter is the smarter play with Berríos on the mound and the Rays having to churn through relievers on short notice. The over 8.5 runs (at -105) is a good play too.

For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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