Rays vs Blue Jays 07/02/21 – Odds and MLB Betting Trends

by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post

The Toronto Blue Jays’ chances of coming out of a tailspin against a longtime nemesis rest on a rookie pitcher being a stopper. The Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays are set for a virtual pick’em matchup with a 10.0-run total on the MLB odds for Friday night at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com (how the moneyline works).

The Blue Jays are 5-11 in their last 16 home games against the Rays, with the OVER hitting 10 times. Toronto also has a 3-13 record in its last 16 home games against teams which currently have a winning record. However, the Blue Jays are 6-4 in their last 10 games as a home underdog at sports betting sites, with the total going UNDER six times. The Rays are 3-6 in their last nine games as an away favorite, and the total has gone OVER 16 of the last 20 times that they have been minus money on the road.

The Rays, who are 47-34 this season, are MLB’s eighth-highest scoring team, averaging 4.90 runs per game. Tampa Bay is 15th in OPS (.709). Second baseman Brandon Lowe (1.127 OPS against Toronto) and catcher Mike Zunino (1.083) have had the most success against the Blue Jays. On the mound, the Rays are seventh in overall earned-run average (3.54), and rank fourth in relief ERA

The Blue Jays, who are 41-38, are MLB’s third-highest scoring team at 5.13 runs per game. They also rank second with a .783 OPS, although all-star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has gone hitless in two consecutive games. Leadoff hitter Marcus Semien has four extra-base hits in his last three games. The Blue Jays are 14th in overall ERA (4.01), and rank 10th in relief ERA (3.84).

Alek Manoah (1-0, 3.34 ERA, 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings) will start for the Blue Jays on Friday, while fellow rookie righthander Luis Patiño (1-1, 3.60 ERA, 11.4 SO/9) might get the start for the Rays. The Blue Jays are 2-1 as an underdog when Manoah starts, with the total going UNDER twice with one push.

Righthander Ross Stripling (3-4, 4.27 ERA, 9.4 SO/9) will start opposite Rays rookie lefthander Shane McClanahan (3-2, 4.09 ERA, 10.8 SO/9) on Saturday. Stripling has a 0.00 ERA in 13 career innings against Tampa Bay, and the total has gone UNDER in five of his last seven starts at home. McClanahan limited the Blue Jays to one run across five innings in his first start against them on May 22, and the total has gone UNDER in five of his last six starts on the road with Tampa Bay going 3-3.

Lefthander Robbie Ray (6-3, 3.43 ERA, 11.7 SO/9) will start for the Blue Jays on Sunday. Tampa Bay’s starter is not confirmed at MLB.com, but lefty Ryan Yarbrough (4-3, 4.48 ERA, 7.3 SO/9) has followed McClanahan in the rotation. Ray’s teams are 14-5 in his last 19 starts at home with the total going OVER 11 times, and he has a 3.52 ERA over 23 career innings against Tampa Bay (with 33 strikeouts). The total has gone OVER in each of Yarbrough’s last six starts on the road, but he has a 2.43 ERA in 63 innings against Toronto.

The Blue Jays have an off-day on Monday before wrapping up the pre-all star break schedule with away series against the Baltimore Orioles and the Rays.