MLB Baseball Betting: Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays will try to keep pace with the Baltimore Orioles on Monday as they host the Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers Centre. The Orioles won on Sunday while Toronto lost meaning that Baltimore now holds a one game lead over Toronto atop the AL East. The Boston Red Sox are 3 games back of the Orioles in third place while the New York Yankees are 7.5 games back. Tampa Bay has been playing reasonably well of late and despite a loss on Sunday enter play with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. That record is identical to the Blue Jays’ last 10 mark. Tampa Bay’s only real motivation as a team is to avoid finishing with the worst record in the American League (they’ve got only 45 wins this year, tied with Minnesota) and to try and stay ahead of the Atlanta Braves who are 4 games back for the worst record in baseball.

The Blue Jays will start enigmatic R.A. Dickey. The knuckleballer has struggled this season with Toronto winning only 8 of his 23 starts including 2 of 12 at the Rogers’ Centre. Despite his poor numbers he’s capable of a performance like his last outing–a 7 inning, 6 hit, 1 ER 5 strikeout gem against the Houston Astros. For the year, Dickey has a 4.36 ERA overall with a 5.15 ERA at home. The Jays have lost 2 of his last 3 starts and he’s got an ERA of 7.47 in those games–despite his strong showing last time out.

He’ll be opposed by right hander Jake Odorizzi who has been in exceptional form of late. Odorizzi has not allowed an earned run in his last 3 starts though Tampa Bay managed to lose one of those games. They’re 12-11 in his 23 starts this year including 6-4 on the road. For the season, he’s got a 3.70 ERA with a 4.42 road ERA. His last three games line is impressive–0.00 ERA, 0.726 WHIP, 20 2/3 innings pitched 13 hits and 16 strikeouts against just 2 walks.

Tampa Bay has given the Jays fits this season–they’re 6-4 in 10 games against Toronto including 3-0 at the Rogers Centre. We’ll take a shot on Odorizzi who is pitching like a maniac of late.

BET TAMPA BAY RAYS +130 OVER TORONTO BLUE JAYS