Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Prediction: Can Kevin Gausman Get the Blue Jays Back on Track?
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Prediction: Can Kevin Gausman Get the Blue Jays Back on Track?
The Tampa Bay Rays continue to win despite trading away star player after star player. This year, Austin Meadows and Joey Wendle, to name a couple, were let go. But that hasn't stopped the Rays from putting together another winning season.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are in danger of falling to .500 if they lose their series against the Rays over the weekend. Can the Blue Jays capitalize with ace pitcher Kevin Gausman on the mound? Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for Friday’s game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Rays vs. Blue Jays Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: May 13, 2022
- Game Time: 7:10 pm ET
- Where to Watch: BSSUN, SNET-1
Click Here for Rays vs Blue Jays Odds
Rays vs. Blue Jays Injury Report
Rays
Questionable: OF Manuel Margot (Hamstring)
Blue Jays
Out: 3B Cavan Biggio (Illness), C Danny Jansen (Oblique)
Rays vs. Blue Jays Total Runs Movement
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Prediction
The Blue Jays will send out Kevin Gausman, who is 3-1 on the season with a 2.13 ERA. Gausman has a 2.44 xFIP in the last 30 days with crazy high strikeouts at 32.8% along with just .8% of walks in the last 30 days. Gausman is still allowing 23.2% of line drives, which is a bit concerning, but he's been terrific otherwise.
The Rays, interestingly enough, have struck out 27.1% of the time against righties in the last 30 days using their projected lineup. It's not going to be easy to make contact against Gausman at all. The Rays have some power bats in the lineup but ultimately need to make contact first. That will be a struggle.
On the other hand, Drew Rasmussen will get the call for the Rays. He’s not Gausman, but he’s also pitched very well this year. Rasmussen has a 3-1 record with a 2.89 ERA to start the season.
He’s also put together an xFIP of 3.60 in the last 30 days with 24.2% of strikeouts and 6.3% of walks this season. Rasmussen has also limited power and has kept teams off the base paths at a high rate.
The good news for Rasmussen is that the Blue Jays have been slumping recently. The Blue Jays have a .124 ISO and a wOBA of .270 against righties in the last 30 days. Only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a wOBA of .350 or greater against righties in the last 30 days.
Therefore, I don't think either offense has what it takes to score a whole lot tonight. I'll take the under 3.5 in the first five innings.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays Pick
- Under 3.5 F5 (-130) (Bet $130 to Win $100)
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Article Author
Jason grew up an avid sports fan. His passion for sports writing grew in high school and he developed a blog that was strictly for New York Sports. From his work, you will quickly realize that he loves looking at games from an analytical and numbers perspective and hopes to provide you with that same perspective in his articles.