Toronto Blue Jays vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Rays Favored to Defeat Toronto Blue Jays in Season Opener at Tropicana Field

The Toronto Blue Jays are set to open their season against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Thursday afternoon. Jose Berrios will be starting for the Blue Jays, while Zach Eflin will take the mound for the Rays. The Blue Jays finished third in the AL East last season, with the Rays finishing just above them in second place. Tampa Bay holds a 6-4 record in their last 10 games against Toronto. As of now, Tampa Bay is the slight betting favorite with the current line at -128.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Blue Jays +115 | Rays -128
• Spread: Blue Jays +1.5 (-185) | Rays -1.5 (+160)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 56%.

Toronto vs Tampa Bay Stats

Toronto Blue Jays

The AL East division was highly competitive last season, with four teams finishing over .500. Despite finishing in third place, the Blue Jays have made some key offseason additions like Yariel Rodriguez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Justin Turner to bolster their roster for a potential deep playoff run. Offensively, Toronto averaged 4.55 runs per game last season, with Bo Bichette leading the team in batting average and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leading in home runs and RBI. Defensively, the Blue Jays gave up 3.76 runs per game, boasting a strong pitching staff. Despite losing some key players in the offseason, Toronto is confident in their ability to maintain their performance level from last season. Their current power ranking is 13, with rankings of 16 in offense and 6 in defense.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays had a strong start to last season but couldn't maintain their division lead, allowing Baltimore to take the title. They have undergone changes in the offseason, losing key players and relying on younger talent. Despite this, they are confident in their ability to compete for the AL East title again. Last season, the Rays had impressive offensive and defensive statistics, with a high batting average and strong pitching. Currently, they have a power ranking of 11 and are ranked #4 for offense and #5 for defense. In their last 3 matchups, Toronto has gone 2-1 against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Rays Expected to Dominate Toronto Blue Jays in Upcoming Game with Strong Offense and Bullpen

The Tampa Bay Rays had the best home record in the league last season, showing strong offensive performance by scoring over five runs per game at home. Their proficiency against right-handed pitchers, particularly their successful history against Berrios, scoring nine runs in their last three matchups, suggests a strong offensive performance in the upcoming game. Conversely, the Toronto Blue Jays have also displayed offensive strength, but have struggled against right-handers and have faced difficulties against Eflin, conceding only two runs in his last two starts against them. Tampa Bay's exceptional bullpen from the previous season further reinforces their advantage over the Blue Jays. Therefore, it is recommended to confidently select Tampa Bay to cover the money line in this game.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ]