
Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction 5-17-24 Picks
Tampa Bay Rays (22-22) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (19-23)
May 17, 2024 7:07 pm EDT
The Line: Toronto Blue Jays +150 / Tampa Bay Rays -180; Over/Under: -
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays meet Friday in MLB action from Rogers Centre. Here’s a Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Rays played four games against the Boston Red Sox in their last series. Tampa Bay split the first pair 5-3 (Monday win) and 5-4 (Tuesday loss) then eked out a 4-3 win in game three. In the Thursday finale, Tampa Bay scored twice in the ninth inning to cap off a 7-5 victory. Zack Littell put up 5.0 innings in the start, giving up four on seven hits and a walk.
In the starter slot for the Friday game, the Rays didn’t immediately announce a name. Zach Eflin is penciled in for Saturday and Aaron Civale will take game three.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview
Over on the Blue Jays’ side, they just finished up a pair of games versus the Baltimore Orioles. (Tuesday’s matchup was rained out.) Toronto eked out a 3-2 win in the opener, then on Wednesday the Jays had another 3-2 finish but this time they were on the losing end of it. Yusei Kikuchi finished with 4.1 innings in the start with one earned on six hits and a walk.
As starting pitcher for Friday’s matchup the Blue Jays will go with Chris Bassitt. This year over eight starts Bassitt is 3-5 with a 5.06 ERA and 40 Ks in 42.2 innings. Bassitt is 65-47 with a 3.55 ERA in 177 career games (164 starts).
Rays vs Blue Jays Injury Notes
Rays SP Ryan Pepiot (leg) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and will likely throw a simulated game soon. SP Jeffrey Springs (elbow) will pitch in the Florida Complex League on May 20.
Why the Toronto Blue Jays will win
- The Rays have lost each of their last five night games against the Blue Jays following a win.
- The Blue Jays have won six of their last seven home games against AL East opponents following a road loss.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five night games against the Blue Jays following a win.
- The Blue Jays have covered the run line in five of their last six night games against American League opponents following a loss.
- The Blue Jays have led after 3 innings in each of their last three night games against the Rays at Rogers Centre.
- The Blue Jays have led after 5 innings in each of their last four night games at Rogers Centre against AL East opponents.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Chris Bassitt has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last eight appearances against AL East opponents.
- Alejandro Kirk has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five appearances against the Rays.
- Danny Jansen has hit a home run in three of his last four home appearances after not playing the previous day.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded at least one hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last eight home games.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded at least one Single in each of the Blue Jays’ last eight games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded at least one total base in each of the Blue Jays’ last eight games against AL opponents.
- Chris Bassitt has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has scored a run in each of the Blue Jays’ last four games.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Randy Arozarena has hit a home run in each of the Rays’ last two games against the Blue Jays.
- Josh Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 16 appearances against AL East opponents.
- Isaac Paredes has recorded at least one Single in each of his last six road appearances.
- Josh Lowe has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 16 appearances against AL East opponents.
- Randy Arozarena has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight appearances against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Josh Lowe has recorded at least one Double in each of his last three appearances at Rogers Centre.
- Isaac Paredes has recorded an RBI in five of his last six appearances after playing the previous day.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Toronto Blue Jays rank 29th in the league for runs scored this season (152).
- The Toronto Blue Jays rank 29th in the league for RBI’s this season (142).
- The Tampa Bay Rays rank 30th in the league for home runs allowed this season (60).
- The Tampa Bay Rays rank 5th in the league for steals this season (50).
Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
I’ll probably lean toward the Blue Jays. So long as Bassitt can post a quality start, that is. Back on April 26 versus the Dodgers, Bassitt put up seven earned on nine hits and three walks in just 2.2 innings during a loss. He’s been better since then on five earned in 12.1 innings over two starts.
On Wednesday Toronto had a pretty cold offensive outing. Bo Bichette contributed both the team’s RBI on two hits and a walk. Only three other players had a hit otherwise. The good news is that the Jays posted a solid game pitching-wise (minus Jordan Romano’s two earned) and had a late lead. Toronto obviously needs to finish better this time.