Subscribe
Follow Us
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays will continue their four-game series at Rogers Centre on Friday. It's time to continue our MLB odds coverage with a Rays-Blue Jays prediction and pick.
The Blue Jays defeated the Rays 4-1 on Thursday to seal the first of four games. Toronto started hot when Teoscar Hernandez crushed a two-run home run to left field in the second inning. It was his eighth of 2022, giving the Jays a 2-0 lead. Later, Isaac Paredes blasted a shot to deep left field for a home run. It was his 11th in 2022, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Finally, Santiago Espinal whacked a two-run home run to left field. It was his sixth in 2022, giving the Jays the 4-1 lead and commencing the final score.
The Rays are 40-35 and in third place in the AL East. The Jays are 43-33 and in second place in the AL East. The Rays and Jays have played four games in 2022, with each team winning two.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Rays-Blue Jays odds:
MLB odds: Rays-Blue Jays Odds
Rays: +1.5 (-160)
Blue Jays: -1.5 (+132)
Over: 9 (+100)
Under: 9 (-122)
*Watch MLB Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)
Why The Rays Could Cover The Spread
The Rays will go with Corey Kluber on the hill. Likewise, Kluber is 3-4 with a 3.45 ERA. He tossed 5 1/3 innings in his last start, allowing two earned runs on five hits. However, Kluber has lost his previous two starts. He is 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA through five starts in June as the calendar turns into July. Kluber is 1-3 with a 3.86 ERA through seven road starts in 2022. He is 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 career starts against Toronto. Likewise, he is 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in four starts against the Jays at Rogers Centre.
The Rays do not have much offense but they do have Randy Arozarena and Wander Franco, both of whom need to improve against the Jays. Arozarena is batting .200 through four games against Toronto. Additionally, he is batting .203 with one home run, five RBIs, and 10 runs through 21 career games against the Jays. Arozarena has not fared much better in Toronto, batting .125 with an RBI and six runs through 10 games at the Rogers Centre.
Franco is batting .125 with a run scored through four games against the Jays. Also, he is batting .162 with one home run, one RBI, and two runs scored in nine career games against the Jays. Alternatively, Franco has done significantly better against the Jays at Rogers Centre, batting .313 with one home run, one RBI, and one run scored through four games in Toronto.
The Rays will cover the spread if Kluber can deliver a special outing. Likewise, the Rays need their offense to cover. Arozarena and Franco must have solid days at the plate and put the offense into motion to give the Rays a chance to beat their divisional rivals.
Why The Blue Jays Could Cover The Spread
The Blue Jays are going with Jose Berrios on the mound. Berrios is 5-4 with a 5.84 ERA. He has not had a good month, and his last start did not go well at all. Berrios tossed only 2 2/3 innings of work, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits, including three home runs. He has allowed 14 earned runs over two starts. Likewise, Berrios has surrendered seven home runs through three games. He has not had a game go five innings in two starts. Berrios finished June with a 2-2 record and a 6.28 ERA. Additionally, he is 0-3 with a 5.76 ERA over five career starts against the Rays. Berrios is also 0-1 with a 4.85 EEA in two home starts against the Rays. The Jays have two major weapons on offense. These weapons are Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Guerrero is batting .176 with an RBI and a run scored through four games against the Rays. He is batting .253 with nine home runs, 24 RBIs, and 24 runs scored through his career against the Rays. However, Guerrero is batting .306 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs, and 15 runs scored through 18 home games.
Bichette has struggled against the Rays, batting a lowly .071 in four games against Tampa Bay. Additionally, he is batting .213 with six home runs, 16 RBIs, and 14 runs scored through 35 career games. Bichette is the ultimate ‘boom-or-bust' hitter when he faces Tampa. He is batting .250 with three home runs, nine RBIs, and eight runs scored through 13 home games against the Rays.
Gurriel is batting .200 with one RBI and a run scored through four games against the Rays this season. He is batting .255 with 11 home runs, 27 RBIs, and 24 runs scored through 52 career games. Additionally, he has performed better at home, with a .277 mark, four home runs, 14 RBIs, and 14 runs scored through 25 games at Rogers Centre.
The Jays will cover the spread if Berrios can give them a great outing. Additionally, Guerrero, Bichette, and Gurriel must perform to give Toronto a chance.
Final Rays-Blue Jays Prediction & Pick
The Rays look to rebound. Neither pitcher is performing well, but Berrios is terrible. The Rays seem to have one good offensive game every week. It seems like the appropriate time to do it. Expect the Rays to cover.
Final Rays-Blue Jays Prediction & Pick: Rays: +1.5 (-160)
