Tampa Bay Rays (89-55) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (81-63)
September 15, 2021 3:07 pm EDT
The Line: Toronto Blue Jays -222 / Tampa Bay Rays +160; Over/Under: -9.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays meet Wednesday in MLB action from Rogers Centre. This will be the final installment in a three-game set this week. The Blue Jays took a big win in the Monday game, then on Tuesday Tampa struck back with a shutout victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Tampa Bay couldn’t find much offense at all on Monday in the opener, posting just two hits in an 8-1 defeat. In the Tuesday game the Rays posted six hits in a 2-0 shutout win. Drew Rasmussen put up 5.0 clean frames with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
For the Wednesday starter job the Rays will send out Michael Wacha. Across 105.2 innings this year Wacha has 121 hits, 66 runs (63 earned), 22 homers, 26 walks, 104 Ks and a 5.37 ERA.
Over on the Jays’ side, they scored four runs in the fourth Monday on the way to 17 team hits. In the Tuesday game, Toronto could muster just three hits in the defeat. Starter Jose Berrios managed 7.0 innings with one earned on four hits.
Starting pitcher for the Wednesday game will be the Jays’ Robbie Ray. In 170.1 innings so far Ray has 132 hits, 52 runs (51 earned), 27 homers, 43 walks, 220 Ks and a 2.69 ERA.
The Rays are 40-14 in their last 54 versus the AL East and 38-15 in their last 53 on turf. Tampa is 7-3 in their last 10 road games versus a lefty starter and 39-17 in their last 56 in game three of a series.
Meanwhile, the Jays are 6-0 in their last six in game three of a series and 5-1 in their last six Wednesday games. The under is also 6-1 in the Jays’ last seven in game three of a series.
PICK: I’m going to try Tampa again, but you could make a good case either way. Ray is coming off a bit of a spotty start in Baltimore with three earned on eight hits, two walks and two homers in 4.1 innings. He had been on a really nice run before that, though. As for Wacha, he’s given up just four earned in 15.1 innings over his last three appearances. I like both starters to go deep here in a lower-scoring Rays win. Should be a fun one.
