The Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Wednesday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. This will be the third installment in a four-game AL East series this week. The Rays took the opener win, then on Tuesday Toronto evened it up with a blowout victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays out-hit the Rays 11-7 in the Monday opener of this set, but ultimately fell 6-4. On Tuesday Toronto scored six runs in the fifth inning and nine more in the ninth during a blowout win 20-1. Jose Berrios posted 7.0 innings with five hits, one earned and two walks in the starting role.
As starter for Wednesday’s game it’ll be Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi. In his nine starts this year Kikuchi is 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA and 43 Ks in 46.1 innings. Kikuchi has a career record of 26-32 with a 4.93 ERA over 111 games (99 starts).
Tampa Bay Rays
Over on the Rays’ side, they scored three runs in the second inning on Monday and were able to hold on for the victory. In Tuesday’s matchup Tampa was out-hit 27-6 in the defeat. Taj Bradley and Zack Burdi combined for nine earned on a walk and 14 hits in 5.0 innings.
Shane McClanahan will take the mound for the Rays on Wednesday. Across his 10 starts so far McClanahan is 7-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 57.0 innings. McClanahan is 29-14 with a 2.78 career ERA in 63 starts.
The Jays are 3-13 in their last 16 versus the AL East and the under is 6-1-1 in their last eight Wednesday games. The over is 5-1 in Toronto’s last six in game three of a series.
Meanwhile, the Rays are 40-12 in their last 52 at home and 19-7 in their last 26 versus a lefty starter. Tampa Bay is 35-16 in their last 51 overall.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll stay with Tampa Bay. McClanahan is having an excellent year so far, even with something of a shaky start (a no-decision) versus the Yankees on May 13—he had four earned in 4.0 innings there. McClanahan was able to bounce back from that start with 7.0 clean frames versus the Brewers, however. On Tuesday Tampa Bay couldn’t get anything going on either side, giving up multiple hits to nine different Jays batters. It’s going to take a big turnaround to win this series, but I think the Rays can get it started behind a good McClanahan start.
