The Tampa Bay Rays (89-54) lost two of three games at the Detroit Tigers over the weekend and look to get back on track Monday against the red hot Toronto Blue Jays (80-63). First pitch is set for 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre. Let’s analyze the lines around the Rays vs. Blue Jays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Also see: 2021 World Series odds for all teams
Rays RHP Collin McHugh (6-1, 1.46 ERA) is projected to open the game for his sixth start and 32nd appearance. He has a 0.92 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 11.2 K/9 over 55 1/3 IP.
- His 26.8% K-BB% is 13th best among all pitchers with 50 or more innings
- His last 12 appearances have been 2 or fewer innings and he hasn’t gone more than 3 frames in a game all season. This will likely be a short outing with Ryan Yarbrough being the most likely candidate to follow him.
Blue Jays RHP Alek Manoah (5-2, 3.71 ERA) makes his 17th start. He has a 1.12 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 through 85 IP.
- The 23-year-old has been very good for the most part since his call-up, but he has been pretty up and down lately. He allowed 6 ER twice in his last five starts, with a 6.23 ERA and 7.3 K/9 in 26 IP during that span.
- Manoah has faced the Rays twice in July. He surrendered 2 ER in 10 2/3 IP while racking up 19 strikeouts and 34 swinging strikes in those two games.
Rays at Blue Jays odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 1:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Rays +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Blue Jays -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rays +1.5 (-190) | Blue Jays -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -135 | U: +110)
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Prediction
Blue Jays 6, Rays 4
Money line (ML)
Toronto has won 11 of their last 12 games to get back in the Wild Card race. With a little help from the Baltimore pitching staff, they scored 44 runs in the three-game set over the weekend and have averaged 8.8 runs per game during the aforementioned 12-game span.
McHugh has a 1.23 ERA over 7 1/3 IP with 1 earned run, 5 hits, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts across four appearances against the Jays this season.
Yarbrough has pitched well against the Jays too, but has had a rough season overall and boasts a 6.35 ERA across his last eight appearances.
Back the BLUE JAYS (-135) in this one.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Manoah hasn’t been at his best lately and the Toronto bats may struggle to get things going in the first couple of innings. However, Yarbrough has been pretty bad for an extended stretch and the Blue Jays offense is firing on all cylinders should finally get to him Monday provided he takes over for McHugh.
Taking a chance on BLUE JAYS -1.5 (+145) at plus money looks like a pretty solid investment.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Rays come into this game averaging a league-best 5.86 runs per game on the road, and they rank third in wRC+ vs right-handed pitching. On the other side, the Blue Jays are third in runs per game at home and have an offense that is as imposing as any in the league.
Neither of the two pitchers expected to handle the most innings in this game have pitched especially well lately, and can’t be counted on to shut down the opposition.
Look for enough runs to push this total OVER 8.5 (-135).
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