The Toronto Blue Jays (84-66) and Tampa Bay Rays (83-67) play the second game of a 4-game set Friday at Tropicana Field.
Season series: Rays lead 9-7
The Blue Jays are just 1 game ahead of the Rays in the AL wild-card standings after a 10-5 loss at Tampa Bay Friday. Blue Jays OF Whit Merrifield hit 2 HR and OF TeoscarHernández added a solo shot in Toronto’s third loss in its last 4 games. Blue Jays starter RHP José Berríos allowed 6 ER and 7 H in 2 IP.
Rays SS Wander Franco batted in 3 runs and IF Jonathan Aranda hit a lead-off HR in the series opener. DH Randy Arozarena finished with 3 H and 2 RBIs as the Rays bounced back after getting swept at home in a 3-game series vs. the Houston Astros.
Blue Jays at Rays projected starters
RHP Mitch White vs. LHP Jeffrey Springs
White (1-6 5.05 ERA) makes his 17th start and 23rd appearance of the season. He has a 1.41 WHIP 3.1 BB/9 and 7.3 K/9 through 87 1/3 IP.
- Only career appearance vs. the Rays: 6 IP 3 ER 7 H 0 BB and 2 K in a no-decision Sept. 13
- Has allowed 3 or more ER in 4 straight starts
Springs (9-4 2.45 ERA) makes his 23rd start and 31st appearance. He has a 1.09 WHIP 2.2 BB/9 and 9.6 K/9 through 121 1/3 IP.
- Last start vs. Toronto: 6 IP 0 ER 3 H 2 BB and 5 K in Sept. 13 win
- Has won 6 of last 7 decisions
Blue Jays at Rays odds
- Money line (ML): Blue Jays +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Rays -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blue Jays +1.5 (-180) | Rays -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: +105 | U: -130)
Blue Jays at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Blue Jays 4 Rays 2
Money line
BET BLUE JAYS (+120).
Springs pitched 6 scoreless innings in a win the last time he faced Toronto but this desperate Blue Jays team should be more competitive Friday in an attempt to not lose its lead in the AL wild-card standings. Toronto has not lost 3 consecutive games since Aug. 26-28 vs. the Los Angeles Angels.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
The Blue Jays are a good ML bet as underdogs but the Toronto +1.5 (-180) RL is too expensive to bet. Take the plus money on the ML instead.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 7.5 (-130).
White has not looked like himself since going to Toronto. The former Los Angles Dodgers hurler has posted a 7.47 ERA since becoming a Blue Jay in August. White’s uncharacteristic rough stretch should come to an end now as he continues to settle in.
Springs should also help this game stay under the total as he has only allowed 2 ER across 4 September starts.
SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in CO and NJ.
Follow Corey Scott on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup