With the MLB regular season coming to an end, the stage is set for the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays clash in what promises to be an important series for the two teams. The Blue Jays stand at 73-80, while Tampa is at 75-78 and is looking to save what they can from the far from great seasons. Scheduled for Friday, September 20, 2024, at Tropicana Field, this matchup comes with some premium insights for bettors and fans. As dreams of the playoffs begin to dwindle, both teams will fight to redeem themselves.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays 9/2024 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Friday, September 20, 2024 at 6:50 PM ET |
| Where: | Tropicana Field |
| Watch: | SNET, ESPN, MLB.TV |
| Blue Jays odds: | -105 Moneyline |
| Rays odds: | -112 Moneyline |
| Total Line: | 8 |
Toronto Blue Jays (73-80) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (75-78)
The Toronto Blue Jays have had a tumultuous season, evidenced by their slightly under .500 record. Their recent performances have been a mix of highs and lows. Looking back at their last five games, they secured a shutout victory against Texas with a 4-0 score, suffered a close 2-0 defeat the following day, and experienced a high-scoring 13-8 loss before that. However, they bounced back with narrow victories over St. Louis, 3-2 and 7-2, showing signs of resilience and capability to pull through tight games.
| Toronto Blue Jays Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 19, 2024 | TEX | 4-0 | Win |
| Sep 18, 2024 | TEX | 0-2 | Lose |
| Sep 17, 2024 | TEX | 8-13 | Lose |
| Sep 15, 2024 | STL | 3-2 | Win |
| Sep 14, 2024 | STL | 7-2 | Win |
On the other hand, the Tampa Bay Rays have faced their share of challenges this season but maintain a slight edge over the Blue Jays in the standings. Their recent form includes a tight 2-1 loss to Boston, a commanding 8-3 victory against the same, and losses to Cleveland, with scores of 2-0 and 6-1, before managing a 3-1 win. This pattern indicates a struggle to maintain consistent offensive output, which could be crucial in the upcoming games.
| Tampa Bay Rays Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 18, 2024 | BOS | 1-2 | Lose |
| Sep 17, 2024 | BOS | 8-3 | Win |
| Sep 15, 2024 | CLE | 0-2 | Lose |
| Sep 14, 2024 | CLE | 1-6 | Lose |
| Sep 13, 2024 | CLE | 3-1 | Win |
Jose Berrios (16-9, 3.44 ERA) vs. Tyler Alexander (6-5, 5.58 ERA)
Jose Berrios for the Blue Jays has been instrumental to the rotation this season, standing with a 16-9 record and a good earner run average of 3.44. Berrios’s success can be attributed to his control of the ball and getting fewer hits and home runs in 183.1 innings pitched. Toronto might be biased toward Berrios in this pitching duel, perhaps due to his 143 strikeouts a comfortable number of walks, and his steady experience.
Tyler Alexander’s season with the Rays is somewhat different, as he finished with a 6-5 record and also a much higher ERA of 5.58. During these 98.1 innings of pitching, he has given up 104 hits and 23 home runs, indicating some weaknesses that the Blue Jays might take advantage of. His performance could be the key in this matchup. As the numbers show, he does not perform as well and could be in trouble facing a Blue Jays team that is good at taking advantage of frailties.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Toronto Blue Jays -105, Total Odds: 8
The available odds appear to be fairly equal to one another, which can only mean that this game is particularly risky. The Blue Jays have a slim advantage on the moneyline, and the total is 8, so it may be advisable to bet on the under because both teams have a history of not scoring enough runs lately and because of heads pitcher Berrios.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends
Despite being on the road, early betting patterns also show that the chances of going over the total on courtside are slim because of Toronto’s recent results. The total has been going UNDER in 4 of their last 6. This modest recent win streak can be underrated. Their knack for winning close games allows them to keep potential promise, especially for betters.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends
On the other hand, the Rays have had the total fail to hit OVER the last 8 consecutive times in their last 9 matches pointing towards lower final scores in games due to their excellent pitching and weak offense at times. Nevertheless, their previous games played against the Toronto franchise signaled high scores, with 16 out of 20 encounter totals being OVER and that may change the pattern in the forthcoming game.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays 9/20/24 Betting Picks
Considering the stats and recent performance, the Blue Jays might well have the upper hand in this contest, whereas Berrios can be trusted as the principal reason for that. But then, the weaknesses of the Rays at home and their scoring history against Toronto shouldn’t be overlooked either. The total points are better off considered under, and it may be advisable to put faith in the Blue Jays covering the spread.
As per the best MLB free picks, this game will see the total score go below the bookmakers’ line owing to the starters and the current streak of both teams. With player props, especially Jose Berrios strikeouts over props could be correlated to betting success.