3 Ways To Bet Blue Jays vs. Rays – Mon, Sept. 12

The Blue Jays have hit their worst slump of the season at the worst time of the season.

Toronto is 2-7 in September and is coming off a 2-1 series loss to the Red Sox that now puts the Jays 2 games out of first in the AL East.

Fortunately for the Blue Jays, they’re still 2 games up in the Wild Card race.

Tonight, they’ll open a 3-game series with the Rays at the Rogers Centre. Francisco Liriano will get the ball for Toronto in place of R.A. Dickey, and Tampa will counter with Jake Odorizzi.

Here’s 3 ways to bet tonight’s matchup.

1. Over 9

Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, Liriano isn’t the pitcher this season that he has been in the past.

Liriano’s biggest issue has been walks, dealing more than 5 free passes per 9 innings. He’s also been vulnerable to the home run (1.5 HR per 9 innings), and the Rays rank 7th in the league in home runs.

Odorizzi is a decent pitcher but he hasn’t fared well at the Rogers Centre in his career (4.96 ERA in 6 starts). He’s allowed at least one homer in 5 of his last 6 starts.

Tampa’s also been an extreme Over team since the beginning of August, going Over the total in 27 of their last 35 games. The Jays and Rays have gone Over in 8 of their last 9 meetings.

2. Rays +140


It’s no fun to bet against the Blue Jays, but the value is definitely there.

Odorizzi has been very good since the all-star break, going 6-0 before losing his last start in Baltimore.

The Jays aren’t playing with much confidence right now, and Tampa Bay has always been a thorn in their side. The pitching matchup is not in Toronto’s favour.

Toronto needs the win much more than Tampa, but that could mean the Rays play loose and relaxed while the Jays feel the pressure.

3. Josh Donaldson Over 2.5 H+R+RBI (Bodog)

The big guy is certainly due. He doesn’t have a HR in his last 11 games, and he doesn’t even have a hit in his last 7.

Maybe Odorizzi will snap Donaldson out of his funk. Donaldson has 4 hits in 17 career at-bats against the Rays righty, but three of those hits were home runs.

Bodog lists Donaldson’s H+R+RBI (hits plus runs plus Runs Batted In) at 2.5, with the Over at -110 odds. A Donaldson home run would cash that Over 2.5 prop right away, even if it’s just a solo shot.