The Tampa Bay Rays (47-34) and Toronto Blue Jays (41-38) play the first game of a three-game series at Toronto’s temporary home of Sahlen Field in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday. First pitch is set for 7:07 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rays vs. Blue Jays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Rays RHP Luis Patino (1-1, 3.60 ERA) has allowed 7 runs (6 earned) on 12 hits, 4 walks and 2 home runs with 19 strikeouts over 15 IP spanning three starts and two relief appearances.
- Patino spent time on the injured list due to a lacerated finger but excelled for Triple-A Durham since being optioned May 30
- Hasn’t gone deeper than 4 innings in an appearance this season, including 3 1/3 IP with 4 ER in a no-decision start against the Baltimore Orioles May 18
Blue Jays RHP Alek Manoah (1-0, 3.34 ERA) returns from a five-game suspension to pitch with an extra day of rest. The rookie sports a 1.11 WHIP, 10.0 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 through 29 2/3 IP spanning six MLB starts.
- His 33.8% hard-hit is comfortably below the league average, but his 36.4% rate of fly balls is well above average
- Allowed just 1 unearned run over 6 IP at home against the Baltimore Orioles last Friday before serving the suspension
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Rays at Blue Jays odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:28 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rays +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Jays -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rays +1.5 (-185) | Jays -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under: 10 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Prediction
Blue Jays 6, Rays 3
Money line (ML)
Take the BLUE JAYS (-125).
They have the better team offense against right-handed pitching with a second-ranked .790 OPS to the Rays’ 13th-ranked .723 rate, Manoah is a better bet to pitch deeper in the game than Patino and the Toronto bullpen has an MLB-best 3.59 xFIP over the last 14 days compared to Tampa Bay’s fifth-ranked 3.75 rate.
The extra day of rest as a result of the suspension should serve Manoah and the Blue Jays well after they lost back-to-back games against the Seattle Mariners.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
For the aforementioned reasons, BLUE JAYS -1.5 (+150) is the more appealing play Friday with a greater payout.
These lines have shifted considerably since opening as a pick ’em. Follow suit and grab the hosts with pitching concerns for Tampa Bay.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 10 (-115) with the total seemingly inflated by both pitchers returning to the lineup.
Patino has been strong at both levels this season and Manoah had one of his best starts against the lowly Orioles before serving the suspension. Both bullpens have also pitched as top-five units by xFIP over the last two weeks.
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