Game: Toronto Blue Jays @ Tampa Bay Rays
Time: 6:40 p.m.
Odds: Blue Jays +176, Rays -192
Total: 8
The Toronto Blue Jays will attempt to maintain the offensive momentum against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight in Florida after scoring 20 runs last night to snap a five-game losing streak. The Blue Jays split the opening two games of this four-game series by pounding up 27 hits on Tuesday to defeat the Rays 20-1.
George Springer went 4-for-5, including a solo home run, a triple, two runs scored, and two RBIs. In the ninth inning, the Blue Jays scored nine runs and hit three home runs, including a grand slam by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who finished the game with six RBIs. In the eighth inning, Luke Raley moved from first base to the mound and pitched 1.2 innings. Catcher Christian Bethancourt also pitched a third of an inning for the Rays.
The loss set a record for Tampa Bay. The 19-run loss is now the biggest in franchise history. Previously, the worst was a loss to the Boston Red Sox by a score of 22-4 on July 23, 2002.
Yusei Kikuchi, a left-hander (5-1, 4.08 ERA), will start for the Blue Jays on Wednesday. He has made five career starts – six appearances total – against the Rays and is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He will go up against the Rays ace, Shane McClanahan. The left-hander is 7-0 with a 2.05 ERA thus far this season. McClanahan has made seven career starts versus Toronto and has a 3-2 record and a 2.65 ERA.
Toronto finally got a win last night after losing seven of their last eight games. The Blue Jays went 4-6 in their most recent homestand. They lost six of their final seven games during that stretch.
Toronto CF Kevin Kiermaier is making his first trip to the city where he spent ten years as a Ray. He faced his former team last month in Toronto when the Blue Jays defeated the Rays twice in a row. In the first two games of this series, Kiermaier is 2-for-8 with one RBI.
Tyler Glasnow, a right-hander for the Rays, will make his season debut on Saturday after being activated from a left oblique injury. It is a boost for a rotation that has been without Drew Rasmussen (flexor strain) and Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery) due to ongoing injuries.
The 21-run game last night easily went Over the total. That makes it 10 of the last 12 games for Tampa Bay that the Over has cashed. The Over is the trend with the Blue Jays as seven of the last ten games between the two teams have gone Over and five of the last six when playing in Florida. Five of the Rays’ last six home games have also gone Over.
It’s the same for the Blue Jays. Four of their last five have gone Over as have five of their last six games played on the road.
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