The Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays meet Sunday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. Here’s a Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction. This will be the final 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 the Boston Red Sox in their early-week series. Tampa Bay did pretty well in that one, winning 5-3 Monday, 4-3 Wednesday and 7-5 Thursday to take the set. After a 4-3 win over the Jays on Friday, in game two the Rays eked out a 5-4 victory after coming back from an early 4-0 deficit. Zach Eflin went 6.0 innings in the start with four earned on nine hits and no walks.
In the starting pitcher role for Sunday’s finale, the Rays are going with Aaron Civale. This year Civale is 2-3 with a 5.83 ERA and 49 Ks in 46.1 innings over nine starts. Civale is 33-29 with a 4.09 ERA in 95 career starts.
Toronto Blue Jays
Over on the Blue Jays’ side, they played a pair of games versus the Baltimore Orioles this week. Toronto won 3-2 Monday then took a 3-2 loss in game two. Following their Friday loss to Tampa Bay, on Saturday the Jays were out-hit 12-10 in the defeat. Starter Kevin Gausman lasted 6.0 innings with three earned, eight hits and a walk.
It’ll be Alek Manoah in the starting pitcher role for the Blue Jays on Sunday. This year so far Manoah is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts. He’s got 12 Ks in 11.0 innings. Manoah is 28-19 with a 3.36 ERA in 72 career starts.
Rays vs Blue Jays Injury Notes
Rays RP Jacob Waguespack (60-day IL) was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Blue Jays RP Bowden Francis (forearm) was scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday. 1B Joey Votto (ankle) has been taking live batting practice and could begin playing games in the near future.
Total Runs Facts
- Ten of the Rays’ last 11 games as favorites against the Blue Jays have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Ten of the Blue Jays’ last 11 games as underdogs against the Rays have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last seven games as favorites against American League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last five home games against AL East opponents.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- George Springer has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances with the Blue Jays as underdogs against the Rays.
- Danny Jansen has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four appearances with the Blue Jays as home underdogs against AL opponents.
- Bo Bichette has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 appearances with the Blue Jays as home underdogs against AL East opponents.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded at least one Single in each of the Blue Jays’ last nine day games.
- Bo Bichette has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 13 appearances with the Blue Jays as home underdogs against AL East opponents.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has scored a run in each of the Blue Jays’ last five games as underdogs against AL opponents.
- Alek Manoah has recorded six strikeouts in each of his last six appearances in day games.
- Bo Bichette has recorded a Double in three of the Blue Jays’ last four games as underdogs against AL East opponents.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Aaron Civale has recorded five or more strikeouts in five of his last six appearances against AL East opponents.
- Aaron Civale has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances with his team as a favorite against AL East opponents .
- Josh Lowe has recorded at least one Double in each of his last five Sunday appearances.
- Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in four of his last six appearances with the Rays as favorites against AL East opponents.
- Harold Ramirez has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four appearances with the Rays as road favorites against AL East opponents.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 appearances with the Rays as road favorites against AL East opponents.
- Amed Rosario has recorded at least one Single in each of his last seven appearances at Rogers Centre.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 13 appearances with the Rays as road favorites against AL East opponents.
- Brandon Lowe has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances with the Rays as road favorites against the Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
I’ll stay with the Rays. This should be an interesting starter matchup, though. Civale has given up five earned over his last 9.2 innings across two starts. He coughed up seven in 4.2 innings versus the Mets on May 3 as well. Manoah has one good start (7.0 innings; zero earned) and one bad start (4.0 innings; six earned) on his card so far this year.
In the Saturday matchup the Rays were down 4-0 at the end of the fifth inning. Tampa Bay’s bats came alive after that and the bullpen held out well on 3.0 innings, no earned, one hit, no walks and two Ks. I like Tampa to keep it rolling in the finale.