Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Picks, Predictions, Odds

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Betting Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays will square off at Rogers Centre on Thursday, June 30, 2022.

Tampa Bay ranks fourth in the American League East with records of 40-34 overall and 15-17 on the road, which trails the division leading New York Yankees by 15 games. The Blue Jays enter Thursday in third place in the American League East standings with a record of 42-33 overall and 23-15 at home, which positions them 13.5 games back in the division.

Updated on 03/28/2024
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Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Betting Prediction

The Tampa Bay Rays enter this matchup fourth in the AL East standings, 15 games behind the New York Yankees for first place. The Rays most recently lost back-to-back games in a two-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers and have gone 5-5 SU over their last 10 games. The Rays struggled against the Brewers, scoring six runs throughout the series while giving up 10. The offense has not been able to get much going throughout the season, averaging 4.02 runs per game (26th). Tampa Bay’s bullpen has been the heart and soul of the team this year with an ERA of 3.23 (4th). Right fielder Manuel Margot has been one of the Rays most productive hitters with a batting average of .302 (55-182), three home runs, and 27 RBIs.  

Toronto is currently third in the AL East standings, 13 and a half games behind the New York Yankees for first place. The Blue Jays most recently went 2-1 SU in a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox and are 5-5 SU over their last 10 games. Toronto dominated game one against Boston with a final score of 7-2, snuck a win out in game two after headed into the bottom of the ninth down one run, and lost game-three in extra innings after giving up three runs in the top of the tenth inning. The Blue Jays offense has been solid this season, averaging 4.67 runs per game (10th). The bullpen has not seen as much success with a team ERA of 4.02 (19th).  

Tampa Bay has won just one of three games against the Blue Jays this season, but I like them to win game-one of this series. The Blue Jays will send left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to the mound. Kikuchi has struggled this season with an ERA of 5.08 and record of 2-4. I expect that trend to continue and for the Rays offense to see success against him. Backing the Rays moneyline here.

Score Prediction: Rays 5, Blue Jays 4
Best Bet: Rays ML

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Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Betting Odds

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Betting Resources

  • Date: Thursday, June 30, 2022
  • Matchup: AL East
  • Venue: Rogers Centre
  • Location: Toronto, Canada
  • Time-TV: 7:07 p.m. ET – YouTube

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays – Current Form

The Rays grabbed three of three games last Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but were tripped up by the Brewers last Wednesday. In the third contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays were in their best form in the last five games, keeping the Pittsburgh Pirates at only two runs.

The second of three matches on Saturday marked an six-run effort by Tampa Bay against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which was their best performance this week. The Blue Jays lost against the Brewers last Sunday 2-1, but climbed back up by winning against the Red Sox last Wednesday. In the first contest against the Boston Red Sox on Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays were in their best form in the last six games, keeping the Boston Red Sox at only two runs.

In the most recent six games, the one played on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers was their worst. The Toronto defense allowed 10 runs.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays – Pitching Matchup

Tampa Bay: Jeffrey Springs (3-2, 2.25 ERA)

Tampa Bay’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs takes the mound for his 10th start of the season. Springs looks to improve on a 3-2 record and 2.25 ERA in 60 innings, while striking out 65, walking 13 batters, and posting a 1.00 WHIP. Springs received a no-decision in his most recent start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, as Tampa Bay’s left-hander surrendered three runs on seven hits, and nine strikeouts during the Rays’ 4-3 home loss on June 24, 2022. Springs is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA across this season’s five starts on the road, which includes eight walks, 33 strikeouts, and a 1.02 WHIP over 29.1 innings of action.

Toronto: Yusei Kikuchi (2-4, 5.08 ERA)

Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound in the series opener as he makes his 14th start of the season for the Blue Jays in this contest. He comes in 2-4 with a 5.08 ERA, a 1.59 WHIP, 35 walks and 66 strikeouts over 56.2 innings of work on the year. Toronto’s 31-year-old left-hander lost his last start, which came on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers June 25, 2022. He threw two innings, allowing five runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts in a 5-4 the Blue Jays loss. In seven home starts this season, Kikuchi has compiled a 2-2 record in 31.2 innings, while striking out 39, walking 16 batters, and putting together a 5.12 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays – Series History

The 2021 campaign was dominated by the Rays, who went 11-8 in this season's series. This season, Tampa Bay has picked up two wins in three meetings.