Free MLB Pick: Blue Jays vs Rays Odds
Looking for Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays free plays? MLB betting sees the Blue Jays taking on the Rays on Monday, April 4, 2016 at the Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions.
(0-0) Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays (0-0)
Date: Monday, April 4, 2016
Time: 7:10 PM ET
Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Projected Pitchers: R.A. Dickey vs. Drew Smyly
MLB Moneyline Odds: Rays -115
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Off
MLB Betting Total: 8
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This is the second of 13 meetings between these two teams this year pits the defending AL East champ against an underrated Rays team. When these teams meet at the Trop, history has generally favoured Tampa. Since 2010, Tampa has won 64% of their meetings when they were the home team (36-20).
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays come into this season with one of the league’s most fearsome offenses. The 2016 iteration is arguably better than last year’s with the addition of a healthy Michael Saunders at the bottom of the lineup.
R.A. Dickey struggled against Tampa last year, especially when he pitched at Tropicana Field. He didn’t win a game in St Pete and registered a cringeworthy 7.71 ERA, down even further from his 5.00 ERA in the same park in 2014.
Needless to say the Rays seem to have Dickey’s number at home, so look for the offense to be salivating at the sight of knuckler on the bump.
The Jays were respectable on the road last season, going 40-41
Luckily for Jays supporters, this offense is able to mask a lot of poor performances by starting pitchers. They are coming off a season in which they led the MLB with 891 runs scored.
This stands 247 runs, or 1.5 runs per game, higher than the Rays.
In addition to the offense, the Jays were one of the best fielding team in baseball (coincidentally, something the Rays typically do well every year).
If Dickey can manage the long ball in this one, the defense should be able to support him.
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa should not be taken lightly in 2016. After a disappointing 80-82 season, they enter this season with something to prove after being a perennial playoff contender for most of the 2010’s.
The Rays added a bit of power to their anemic offense with the Logan Morrison/Steve Pearce first base platoon replacing James Looney’s contact abilities.
They also traded their former closer to acquire the services of Corey Dickerson who had a 24 homer season in 2014.
It remains to be seen how drastic the effect of leaving Coors Field will be on his overall production will be though.
Smyly only faced the Jays once last season and although he wasn’t able to make it through the 5th inning, he only allowed two runs against them. Smyly pitched fairly well in the Trop last season pitching to a 3.71 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
The Rays played .500 ball at home last season (42-42).
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- Blue Jays are 6-1 in their last 7 road games vs. a left-handed starter
- Blue Jays are 6-2 in Dickeys last 8 road starts
- Blue Jays are 4-0 in their last 4 Monday games
- Rays are 6-1 in Smylys last 7 home starts
- Rays are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter
- Blue Jays are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings
Free Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Prediction:
It’s tough to predict anything in the opening week, but based on the Jays high octane offense and Dickey’s struggles at Tropicana Field, we can probably expect this to be a relatively high scoring affair, but I think the Jays manage to exercise their demons and make a statement in the opening series against Tampa.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: OVER the Number
Jays win this one on the road by a pair of runs.
MLB Free Score Prediction: Toronto 6 – Tampa Bay 4
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