The Toronto Blue Jays continued their hot streak with another series win over the weekend. Their postseason push marches on with a potential American League Divisional Series matchup against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays on the horizon.
The Jays took two of three from the Rays in their series in Toronto last week and will be favored in the opener of this one as they hand the ball to Robbie Ray, who is the new betting favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award.
Find out who we like with our free MLB betting picks and predictions for Rays vs Blue Jays on Monday, September 20.
Blue Jays vs Rays game info
• Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
• Date: Monday, September 20, 2021
• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• TV: Sportsnet, Bally Sports Sun
Blue Jays vs Rays odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Blue Jays vs Rays betting preview
Starting pitchers
Robbie Ray (12-5, 2.64 ERA): Ray has become the favorite for the AL Cy Young because he has been nearly unhittable down the stretch. The lefty has pitched to a 1.91 ERA over his last seven starts while limiting opponents to a .190 batting average and striking out a ridiculous 14.2 batters per nine innings.
Shane Baz (MLB debut): Baz is the Rays' No. 1 pitching prospect. The 22-year-old right-hander pitched to a 2.17 ERA with a 0.80 WHIP while striking out 12.9 batters per nine innings across 17 starts between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. But will that translate to success against the Blue Jays' powerful offense?
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Blue Jays: Cavan Biggio 3B (Out).
Rays: Kevin Kiermaier CF (Probable), Wander Franco SS (Questionable), Matt Wisler RP (Out), Ryan Thompson RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 7-1-2 in Ray's last 10 starts and 6-0-2 in the last eight meetings between the Blue Jays and Rays. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs Rays.
Moneyline pick
The Blue Jays have surged back into the postseason picture thanks to a stretch that has seen them win 18 of their last 22 games, and they now hold a 1.5 game lead over the New York Yankees for the second AL wild-card spot.
Can they stay hot at The Trop, a stadium they have traditionally struggled in? Well, they hand the ball to the right guy for the job in Ray. As noted, he has been almost unhittable over his last seven starts, but the southpaw has also had his way with the Rays this season.
Ray has made five starts against Tampa Bay, pitching to a 1.85 ERA while holding the team to a .169 average and striking out 12.2 batters per nine innings. That includes allowing just one run on four hits while striking out 13 over seven innings against the Rays just back on Sept. 15.
While Tampa Bay has arguably been the best team in the AL for much of the season, it is just 8-10 in September with a -1 run differential. Now it hands the ball to a kid making his major league debut against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball.
This is a good value to back the Blue Jays.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays (-130)
Over/Under pick
When it comes to the total, the early money has come on the Under and there are already some 7.5s out there, so go jump on an 8 before they are all gone.
We’ve beaten this horse to death, but Ray is throwing gas right now and, as a result, the Under has been a great bet in his starts. Ray has limited opponents to two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his last 14 outings, with the Under going 9-3-2 over that stretch. He faces a Tampa Bay lineup that has hit a bit of a lull, plating just 3.6 runs per game over its last 11 contests.
Meanwhile, if Baz gets in trouble early, don’t be surprised if manager Kevin Cash gives the rookie a quick hook and hands the ball over to a Rays bullpen that ranks third in ERA and second in WHIP.
These teams just seem to consistently play tight games and tonight should be no different.
PREDICTION: Under 8 (-115)
Blue Jays vs Rays betting card
- Blue Jays (-130)
- Under 8 (-115)
Picks made on 9/20/2021 at 12:36 p.m. ET
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