Rays vs. Blue Jays MLB Odds, Picks, Predictions: Can Kluber Get Tampa Bay Back in Win Column? (Friday, July 1)
Mike Carlson/Getty Images. Pictured: Corey Kluber.
- The Blue Jays host the Rays for the second game of a five-game series.
- Tampa Bay has lost three in a row, but is sending Corey Kluber to the mound, while Toronto will counter with Jose Berrios.
- Tony Sartori breaks down the matchup and provides a best bet below.
Rays vs. Blue Jays Odds
| Rays Odds | +118 |
| Blue Jays Odds | -138 |
| Over/Under | 9 (-120/-102) |
| Time | 3:07 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
We have the second matchup of this five-game AL East intradivisional series with the Toronto Blue Jays hosting the Tampa Bay Rays. This is the fifth meeting between these two teams this season and they have split the first four games.
Will the Blue Jays take care of business in back-to-back games as a home favorite, or can the Rays end their three-game losing streak as a short road underdog?
Tampa Bay Rays: Can Kluber Keep Dominating?
Looking to end their three-game losing streak, the Rays are handing the ball to right-hander Corey Kluber. Through 14 starts this season, Kluber is 3-4 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.
On May 10th, Kluber got absolutely rocked by the Angles as he surrendered eight earned runs on 11 hits over three innings. However, that performance sparked something in Kluber as he has been dealing since that outing.
Following that performance, Kluber has allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his past eight starts. Following Kluber is one of the league's better bullpens.
Since May 1st, the Rays' relief pitching ranks seventh in the league in ERA, ninth in BA, 14th in SLG and 12th in wOBA. If this pitching staff can keep Toronto's powerful offense at bay, then they will have a good shot at winning this ball game as right-hander Jose Berrios is slated to take the mound for Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays: Berrios, Bullpen Have Struggled Recently
Through 15 starts this season, Berrios is 5-4 with a 5.86 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Berrios' metrics are just as poor as he possesses a .402 xwOBA, .311 xBA and a .597 xSLG.
His pitching has really taken a turn for the worse lately as Berrios has now allowed six or more earned runs in each of his past two outings. Following Berrios is a fade-worthy bullpen.
Since May 1st, the Blue Jays' relief pitching ranks just 23rd in ERA, 25th in BA, 25th in SLG and 25th in wOBA. Allowing runs has been a big problem for this pitching staff recently as opponents are averaging 5.64 runs scored over Toronto's past 11 games.
If Berrios has yet another tough outing, this struggling bullpen may also have difficulties in preventing the Rays from piling on the runs.
Rays-Blue Jays Pick
Tampa Bay's potential success in this outing depend on Kluber keeping up his recent form. Assuming Kluber does not see any regression and keeps rolling, then Toronto will most likely not score more than three runs until they see Tampa Bay's bullpen.
Tampa Bay's bullpen is another area where the Rays have an advantage in this contest and Toronto could be held to three or fewer runs in this game. With that being said, Tampa Bay should be able to score as Berrios has been in awful form both statistically and analytically.
If Berrios is chased early, I am not too confident in Toronto's bullpen being a saving grace as they are bottom-10 in the league since the beginning of May. Toronto only wins in Berrios' starts when the games are high-scoring and I do not think we will get that in a contest where the Blue Jays are going against a starter in good form and a top-15 bullpen.
Pick: Tampa Bay Rays ML (+118) | Play down to (+105)
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