The Toronto Blue Jays will wrap up a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon at Rogers Centre.
Toronto evened the series with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory on Wednesday, courtesy of a three-run homer from catcher Alejandro Kirk in the sixth inning. After several shaky performances from Toronto’s bullpen in recent games, three relievers combined to hold the Rays hitless over 3 1/3 innings to preserve another solid outing from starter Chris Bassitt.
Let’s dive into the game odds for Thursday’s series finale between the Rays and Blue Jays, courtesy of bet365.
Rays vs. Blue Jays odds
Rays moneyline odds | +140 |
Blue Jays moneyline odds | -165 |
Runline odds | Blue Jays -1.5 (+130), Rays +1.5 (-155) |
Game total | Over 8 runs (-120), Under 8 (+100) |
Date/Time | May 15, 3:07 p.m. ET |
About the Rays (19-23 SU, 19-23 ATS, 16-24-2 o/u)
After exploding for 11 runs on Tuesday, the Rays put up just one run on seven hits while leaving 13 runners stranded on Wednesday. Luckily, Brandon Lowe produced two of those seven hits to help us cash our recommended bet on his over 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs at +105 odds in the contest. Josh Lowe is also reportedly close to returning to the Rays lineup, although it’s unsure if it will be today or their next series.
The Rays are averaging just 3.86 runs per game this season (23rd in the majors), and they’ve struggled to hit for power, launching just 35 home runs (26th in MLB). They do steal a lot of bases, though, as their 48 thefts this season rank fourth in baseball. They stole two bags from Kirk on Wednesday, and Toronto’s projected starter on Thursday, Kevin Gausman, is one of the worst in the league at holding runners on.
About the Blue Jays (21-21 SU, 26-16 ATS, 21-21 o/u)
Kirk went 2-for-4 and launched his third homer of the campaign Wednesday after missing a game with a head injury, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get the day off Thursday with the short turnaround from a night game to a day game, which is the most difficult on the catcher position.
The Blue Jays have won five of their last six games to climb back to the .500 mark and vault into second place in the American League East behind the New York Yankees, but they’ll close out this homestand against two dangerous opponents in the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres over the weekend and early into next week.
Probable starting pitchers
Tampa Bay: RHP Zack Littell (2-5, 4.40 ERA, 5.74 K/9)
Littell has allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last five starts, holding the Milwaukee Brewers to two runs on six hits over six innings of work the last time he took the hill. Almost everything he throws has good movement, and the Blue Jays can expect to see a healthy diet of sliders and splitters on Thursday afternoon. Littell ranks in the 83rd percentile in chase percentage (32.6%) and the 89th percentile in walk rate (4.8%).
Toronto: RHP Kevin Gausman (3-3, 3.97 ERA, 7.94 K/9)
Gausman has been awesome at Rogers Centre this year, compiling a 2-0 record with a 2.00 ERA while holding opponents to a .161 batting average across three starts at his home venue. He pitched very well through five innings the last time he took the mound in Seattle, but faltered in his sixth inning of work to allow three earned runs on the day. Gausman’s splitter has returned to its dominant form this season, with batters hitting just .145 off the pitch with a .208 xBA.
Notable injuries
Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder), outfielder Jake Magnum (groin), and pitcher Shane McClanahan (triceps) are on the injured list for Tampa.
Pitchers Ryan Burr (shoulder), Erik Swanson (forearm), Nick Sandlin (lat), and Max Scherzer (thumb) are all on the injured list for the Blue Jays. A few key positional players are also banged up, with Andres Gimenez (quad) also on the IL, and catcher Alejandro Kirk (head) is a game-time decision.
Weather
Could we see the first game at Rogers Centre this year with the retractable dome open? Forecasts are calling for pleasant temperatures around 20 C with a mix of sun and clouds. Winds will blow from right field to left field at around 10 mph if the dome is open, which Blue Jays Nation editor Tyson Shushkewich has said is a possibility this afternoon.
Rays vs. Blue Jays betting trends
- The over is 9-1 in Toronto’s last 10 games.
- The Rays are 8-2 in their last 10 road games.
- The Rays have covered the runline in eight of their last 10 away games.
Rays vs. Blue Jays player prop trends
- Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement has hit safely in eight straight games and is -210 to extend that streak.
- Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho has homered in four of his last 10 games and is +400 to go deep.
- Rays infielder Jose Caballero has beaten his line of 0.5 hits + runs + RBIs in five straight games and seven of his last 10. He’s -180 to exceed that mark.
Rays vs. Blue Jays best bet
- Daulton Varsho over 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs: +100 for one unit (best odds at Sports Interaction). Varsho is 3-for-9 with a pair of homers, three RBIs, and two runs scored through the first two games of this series, and he has very good splits against Littell in his career, going 4-for-9 with a homer. Varsho has beaten this line in five of his 10 games this year, averaging 2.6 hits + runs + RBIs in that span, so we’re getting fair odds at +100 (50% implied odds) in this spot.