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With Stakes High, Bet Under for Blue Jays vs Rays, Sept. 22

With only three series left for the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays, the American League East rivals will match up six times. Every game could be crucial down the stretch, especially for the Blue Jays, who are trying to hold on to a Wild Card spot.

For your MLB betting analysis, the Rays have already clinched a place in the playoffs but are 1½ games back from the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles leading the AL East. The Blue Jays are in the second Wild Card, with only a half-game lead over the final spot.

With Stakes High, Bet Under for Blue Jays vs Rays, Sept. 22
With Stakes High, Bet Under for Blue Jays vs Rays, Sept. 22

Starting Pitchers

Chris Bassitt (14-8, 3.78 ERA) vs Tyler Glasnow (9-6, 3.53)

The pitchers for this game are two of the best in the AL, which will affect MLB public money.

The Blue Jays will have Chris Bassitt taking the mound, playing a part in the team having the lowest ERA for starters. In his last start, he threw 110 pitches in seven innings, allowing two runs and one home run with five strikeouts. However, his previous start was less than ideal, going 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits, five runs and a homer. Both starts were at home, but there is a clear difference in ERA for Bassitt when he is on the road. His ERA at home is 3.08, compared to 4.64 on the road.

Tyler Glasnow will be taking the bump for the Rays and he is coming off two less-than-reliable starts. Over Glasnow’s last two starts, he has allowed 10 runs and 14 hits in 10 innings pitched, also giving up three homers. Before those two outings, Glasnow had a 2.98 ERA. With both elite pitchers struggling recently, that is something for betting analysis to track.

Blue Jays Charging

Last week, it seemed like Toronto would miss out on the playoffs. The Blue Jays had just been swept by the Texas Rangers, immediately changing their MLB odds to make the playoffs. However, they swept the Boston Red Sox and won a series against the New York Yankees to bolster their playoff hopes.

In the series against the Red Sox, the Blue Jays’ pitching staff stepped up. They held the Red Sox to five runs throughout the whole series. That was just enough wiggle room for the Blue Jays to get the series win despite never scoring more than four runs over the three games.


Against the Yankees, the offense started to come alive a little for the Blue Jays. They won the first two games by a combined 13-2, but failed to get the sweep, losing the series finale 5-3.

Rays Eyeing AL East Title

With the Rays having already secured a spot in the playoffs, all that matters is the positioning. They have the second-best record in the AL, behind the Orioles, which forces the Rays into a Wild Card spot.

These final eight games for the Rays will be crucial in trying to pass the Orioles, winning the division and the No. 1 seed. Prior to the series against the Los Angeles Angels, the Rays split a four-game set with Baltimore.

On top of that, this series means a lot for MLB lines going forward if the Rays don’t pass the Orioles. As it currently stands, the Blue Jays and Rays are set to meet in the playoffs. These final six games between the teams will determine their seeding.

Blue Jays vs Rays Betting Odds

Blue Jays vs Rays Best Bet

Going into this series could mean a lot for both teams in the playoff hunt, leading to the sportsbook paying a lot of attention to it. With this first game of the series leaning toward a pitching duel with a playoff feel, expect the game to be low-scoring.

Neither has had the most power recently, making it hard for a player to be included in the best home run picks on Sept. 22.

MLB Best Bet: Under 7½ (-110)

Blue Jays vs Rays Game Information

• Game: Blue Jays (85-68) vs Rays (94-60)
• Location: Tampa Bay Rays, St. Petersburg, FL
• Day/Time: Friday, Sept. 22, 6:40 p.m. ET
Blue Jays vs Rays Live Stream: MLB.tv

 

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