Will Blue Jays get back on track vs. Rays?
The Blue Jays aren’t accustomed to being outslugged, but that’s precisely what has happened of late. They’ll lean on an unconventional pitching option tonight in an effort to salvage a maddening series vs. the Rays.
John Gibbons sends knuckleballer R.A. Dickey to the hill at 7:07 p.m. ET as the two AL East clubs conclude a three-game set. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI like the hosts to shake off recent results, while Tampa Bay is considered a 1.5-run underdog. The over/under run total comes in at 8.5.
Kevin Cash’s crew pulverized the defending division champs yesterday, 12-2, with ace Marcus Stroman unable to prevent the onslaught. The result mirrored that of the opener, which the Rays took in a 13-2 rout. Toronto has actually dropped four in a row, letting the opposing lineup run amok in each and every instance.
Whether the highly erratic Dickey (2-4, 4.31 ERA) can offer stability remains a legitimate question. He did “limit” Tampa Bay to three runs across five-plus frames of a 5-3 victory on April 4. Most recently, the 41-year-old even managed to work into the eighth against Texas.
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Irrespective of Dickey’s performance, though, the Blue Jays (19-22) need to correct matters at the plate. That starts and ends with Jose Bautista, who seems to be fighting his approach and fellow players in equal measure right now. He’s struggled immensely in previous meetings with this evening’s hurler, Jake Odorizzi (0-2, 3.83), too, going 1 for 17 with seven walks and six strikeouts. One positive lurking under the surface: Odorizzi holds a 6.19 ERA in three road assignments.
Still, the ineffectiveness of the usually potent Bautista-Josh Donaldson makes the Rays (18-19) the more appealing option. Despite a lack of starpower, the visitors simply continue to motor along. Why would the sticks slow down here?
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