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The Tampa Bay Rays (51-50) and Toronto Blue Jays (45-55) play the middle contest of a 3-game set on Wednesday. First pitch from Rogers Centre is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Blue Jays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 5-3
The Rays opened the road series with a 4-2 victory as slight underdogs (+116) with the Under (8.5) cashing Tuesday.
Tampa Bay has won 5 of the first 8 meetings vs. Toronto this season, with the Under cashing in 3 of the previous 4 battles. The underdog has cashed in 3 of the previous 4 meetings, too.
Tampa Bay has won 3 of its past 4 games, all as an underdog. The Over is also 3-1 in the past 4 outings.
The Blue Jays are just 2-5 in the past 7 contests. While the Under cashed in Tuesday’s contest, the Over is still 8-1 in the past 9 games for Toronto.
Rays at Blue Jays projected starters
RHP Zach Eflin vs. RHP Yariel Rodriguez
Eflin (5-7, 4.14 ERA) makes his 19th start. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 1.1 BB/9 and 7.2 K/9 in 104 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 4 ER (5 R), 7 H, 4 BB, 5 K in 6-1 setback at New York Yankees Friday
- 2024 road splits: 2-5, 5.52 ERA (60 1/3 IP, 37 ER), 1.33 WHIP, .286 opponents’ batting average, 9 BB, 50 K in 11 starts
- 2024 vs. Blue Jays: 0-1, 7.71 ERA (11 2/3 IP, 10 ER), 3 HR, .306 OBA, 1 BB, 8 K in 2 starts
- Career vs. Blue Jays: 2-3, 6.35 ERA (34 IP, 24 ER), 1.56 WHIP, 7.4 K/9 in 6 starts and 1 relief appearance
Rodriguez (1-3, 3.78 ERA) makes his 9th start. He has a 1.38 WHIP, 4.9 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 in 33 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K in 5-4 loss at Arizona Diamondbacks July 12
- 2024 home splits: 0-1, 2.57 ERA (14 IP, 4 ER), 1.36 WHIP, .235 OBA, 7 BB, 13 K in 3 starts
- Has never faced the Rays
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Rays at Blue Jays odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:06 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rays -122 (bet $122 to win $100) | Blue Jays +104 (bet $100 to win $104)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+130) | Blue Jays +1.5 (-156)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -102 | U: -120)
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Rays at Blue Jays picks and predictions
Prediction
Blue Jays 5, Rays 3
Moneyline
The BLUE JAYS (+104) are worth a look as slight underdogs as they look to bounce back from Tuesday’s 4-2 loss.
Toronto is just 2-5 in the past 7 games, but Eflin has struggled with a 5.52 ERA on the road this season, while posting a dismal 6.35 ERA in his career against the Jays.
BACK TORONTO (+104), but play it lightly.
Run line/Against the spread
The Blue Jays +1.5 (-156) aren’t priced out of line if you’d like a little bit of insurance, and you’re not willing to back Toronto straight up.
The Rays have won 3 of the past 4 games, and each of their past 5 wins since July 12 are by 2 or more runs. Tampa Bay looks mighty attractive, but Eflin has been a disaster on the road.
Just don’t bet more than 1½ units between the Blue Jays ML (+104) and their RL (-156).
Over/Under
UNDER 8.5 (-120) is the lean, but stick with a half-unit play at best.
The Under is a risky play in Toronto games, as the Over had cashed in 8 consecutive games until Tuesday’s series opener.
Tuesday’s Under also snapped a Rays 3-0 Over run. However, the Under is 5-3 across their last 8 games.
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