Rays vs. Blue Jays Prediction
The Tampa Bay Rays clinched an AL Wild Card spot last night and now have their sights set on earning home-field advantage with two regular season games left. Can Tampa Bay get the win today as its series resumes at the Toronto Blue Jays?
Game Snapshot
917 Tampa Bay Rays at 918 Toronto Blue Jays
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Rogers Centre at 3:07PM ET
TV: SNET
Compare odds from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our MLB Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Rays are a -188 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Blue Jays are a +178 underdog, while the total is set at 9.5 runs. As of Saturday morning, 61 percent of public bets are being placed on visiting Tampa Bay. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest updates.
Pham, Meadows power Rays
Tampa Bay secured an AL Wild Card bid Friday night with a 6-2 victory at Toronto to improve to 96-64 overall and 48-31 on the road. The Oakland Athletics also clinched last night and are 96-64, holding the tiebreaker as they won the season series over the Rays. Tommy Pham helped lead Tampa Bay offensively as he finished 1-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Austin Meadows ended the game 1-for-4 with a solo homer and a walk. Nate Lowe went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored. Oliver Drake picked up the win in relief as he allowed one earned run on one hit with four strikeouts and no walks over two innings. Ryan Yarbrough gets the start today for the Rays as he enters with an 11-5 record, 4.08 ERA and 0.98 WHIP plus 114 strikeouts over 136 2/3 innings pitched.
Hernandez shines in defeat
Toronto fell by a score of 6-2 at home to Tampa Bay Friday night to drop to 95-95 overall and 33-46 at home. Teoscar Hernandez led the Blue Jays offensively as he finished 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs. Cavan Biggio went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ended the game 1-for-4. T.J. Zeuch took the loss as he allowed three earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks over five innings. Trent Thornton will start today for Toronto as he comes in with a 5-9 record, 5.00 ERA and 1.42 WHIP plus 141 strikeouts across 149 1/3 innings of work.
MLB Betting Trends
Tampa Bay
The Rays are 4-0 in their last four Saturday games. Tampa Bay is 37-16 in its last 53 games overall.
Toronto
The Blue Jays are 1-4 in the last five Thornton home starts. Toronto is 5-1 in its last six games following a loss.
Prediction:
The Rays obviously still have a lot to play for, but teams can have a letdown after such a huge win. It will be interesting to see what the Tampa Bay lineup looks like today as it has a deep bench, but I’d imagine the few players who are considered regulars will be in the lineup. With Thornton pitching much better in the second half of the season, I’m going to take a shot at big plus money at home. Tampa Bay knows it needs two more wins plus an Oakland defeat the next two days and I don’t see it happening.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO BLUE JAYS +178