Blue Jays vs Rays Odds - Contender Rays will expose pretender Jays
With each passing day, the Blue Jays vs Rays odds become less meaningful for Toronto and more meaningful for Tampa. The Jays’ sports betting odds are in a freefall – not really a choke job, but more just the law of averages correcting things, as they never had a strong enough team to finish higher than fourth in the AL East. Now, Tampa will try to bury them for good.
Blue Jays vs Rays Odds: Lack of pitching depth catching up to Toronto
- Brad Mills in for a world of hurt
- Righty bats should propel Jays past Kazmir
- Doc Halladay has a small chink his armor
Tuesday, July 7, 7:08 p.m. ET
Brad Mills (0-1, 14.09) vs James Shields (6-6, 3.50)
Poor Brad Mills. His first two major league starts came against the National League’s top offense in the Phillies and they bombed him for four homers and 14 hits over 7.2 innings. Now, the Blue Jays vs Rays odds pit him against the American League’s most powerful unit in Tampa. He’ll be shaking in his boots against Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist, B.J. Upton and Pat Burrell, as the lefty Mills really struggles against righty bats.
MLB betting fans know what they’re getting with James Shields – he’ll serve up the odd homer, walk nobody and keep his team in the game. The Blue Jays vs Rays odds open up with a cakewalk for Tampa.
MLB betting edge: Rays
Wednesday, July 8, 7:08 p.m. ET
Brian Tallet (5-6, 4.38) vs Scott Kazmir (4-5, 6.79)
It’s been an up-and-down season at the sportsbook for Brian Tallet, but he’s a pleasant surprise overall this season. He walks lots of batters but he’s tough to hit, holding opponents to a .230 average this season. He’s never started against Tampa Bay, but he does have a 1.72 ERA in 15.2 relief innings against them over his career, so his Blue Jays vs Rays odds look solid.
Scott Kazmir is slowly working his way back from a DL stint, and while I think the power lefty will keep improving, the Jays are a tough matchup for him. Aaron Hill, Alex Rios, Scott Rolen – the Jays have too many good right-handed bats.
MLB betting edge: Blue Jays
Thursday, July 9, 12:08 p.m. ET
Roy Halladay (10-2, 2.79) vs David Price (2-3, 5.21)
Every good betting fan likes an upset pick here and there, so here’s one for you. Roy Halladay is undefeated on the road in 2009 but that record should change Wednesday. He’s “mortal” against Tampa in his career, sporting a 3.72 ERA, which is somewhat high for his lofty standards. He also loses his duel with Carl Crawford more often than not, as Crawford hits .313 off him with two homers and nine RBI in 67 at-bats.
David Price has looked downright ugly and not Major-League ready in 2009, but most of his struggles come on the road (0-2, 7.27). At home, Price is 2-1 with a 3.48 ERA and .203 opponents’ average. Every few starts, Price dazzles, and the young power pitcher is due for one of those outings.
MLB betting pick: Rays
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Before his arm flamed out, Dale “Skip” Lalonde was famous for his high-90s heat and power at the plate. He retired young but never turned his back on baseball, earning the nickname “Skip” for his high-school coaching prowess. A true student of the game, he loves crunching the numbers when he handicaps baseball.
