Our Rays vs. Blue Jays prediction for May 13, 2026, hones in on a specific player prop, as Griffin Jax’s strikeout upside looks limited against a stingy Toronto lineup at Rogers Centre.
Rays vs. Blue Jays prediction
Griffin Jax under 4.5 strikeouts: -165 @ bet365
Griffin Jax under 4.5 strikeouts
This line is a little chalky, but there are several factors working against Jax amassing a significant amount of strikeouts on Wednesday night.
Firstly, the Blue Jays strike out the least in the majors, with an average of just 6.93 times per game. And if you’re worried about the small sample size in 2026, you can look back and see that the Blue Jays averaged just 6.82 strikeouts per game for the entire duration of the 2025 season. They’re disciplined and, for the most part, excel at making contact and putting the ball in play.
Secondly, Jax hasn’t thrown more than 59 pitches in a single outing this season, as he converts from a reliever to a starting pitcher in the middle of the season. With a day off scheduled for Thursday, you can bet the Rays won’t hesitate to go to their bullpen early on Wednesday, increasing the likelihood of Jax only throwing three or four innings max. He has not struck out more than three batters in an appearance this season.
In fact, MLB bettors may want to take a look at the under 3.5 strikeouts line at +115 odds being offered by Sports Interaction for better value.
Our Blue Jays predictions at Canada Sports Betting have a record of 11-8-2 for +1.41 units this season, and we’ve hit on both of our previous Rays vs. Blue Jays predictions in this series.
Rays vs. Blue Jays odds
| Rays moneyline odds | +135 |
| Blue Jays moneyline odds | -160 |
| Run line odds | Blue Jays -1.5 (+140), Rays +1.5 (-165) |
| Game total | Over 7.5 runs (-110), Under 7.5 (-110) |
| Date/time | May 13, 7:07 p.m. ET |
Betting the Rays (28-13 SU, 25-16 ATS, 20-21 o/u)
This Tampa team couldn’t be any hotter right now, picking up wins in 16 of its last 18 games to rise to the top of the AL East standings.
Additionally, the Rays are a perfect 5-0 against Toronto this season, outscoring them 27-15 in that span.
The Rays have won 11 straight games and an incredible 21 of 22 when scoring four or more runs this season.
Betting the Blue Jays (18-24 SU, 18-24 ATS, 22-20 o/u)
The Blue Jays have lost three straight games and seven of their last nine as they continue to struggle with a hobbled roster filled with injuries.
However, it was encouraging to see the team rally from a 5-0 deficit on Tuesday to eventually force extra innings.
Toronto is now 3-19 in games where it trails after six innings and 8-14 when its opponents score first.
Probable starting pitchers
Tampa Bay: RHP Griffin Jax (1-2, 5.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 8.50 K/9)
After making his first 11 appearances of the season as a reliever, Jax will be making his fourth start of the season as the team stretches him out into a starting pitcher.
He threw 59 pitches and lasted four innings the last time he took the mound against the Boston Red Sox, so bettors shouldn’t expect a lengthy outing from the right-hander on Wednesday night.
Jax has allowed just two earned runs over nine innings as a starter this season, but he had a disastrous start to the season out of the bullpen while being used in a high-leverage role.
Toronto: RHP Dylan Cease (3-1, 2.58 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 13.1 K/9)
Cease was dominant last time he took the mound, holding the Los Angeles Angels scoreless over seven innings while racking up 10 strikeouts.
Only Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski has a higher K/9 rate (14.3) than Cease (13.1) this season, but the Rays are a tough team to strike out with an average of just 7.05 per game. Only Toronto (6.93 per game) strikes out less than Tampa.
In a small sample size of 42 combined at-bats, Tampa’s roster owns a very respectable .310/.463/.405 slash line with an .868 OPS against Cease. No one on the roster has ever homered off the righty.
Notable injuries
The following players are on the injured list for the Rays:
- P Joe Boyle (elbow)
- P Steven Wilson (back)
- P Steven Matz (elbow)
- P Ryan Pepiot (hip)
- P Michael Grove (shoulder)
- P Manuel Rodriguez (elbow)
- P Edwin Uceta (shoulder)
- OF Gavin Lux (shoulder)
OF Chandler Simpson is day-to-day with a leg injury.
The following players are on the injured list for Toronto:
- OF Anthony Santander (shoulder)
- P Cody Ponce (knee)
- C Alejandro Kirk (thumb)
- P Jose Berrios (elbow)
- P Shane Bieber (elbow)
- P Yimi Garcia (elbow)
- P Bowden Francis (elbow)
- OK Nathan Lukes (hamstring)
- P Max Scherzer (forearm)
- OF Addison Barger (arm)
Weather
Cool evening temperatures will keep the retractable roof at Rogers Centre closed for this contest.
Rays vs. Blue Jays betting trends
- The under is 13-3 in Tampa’s last 16 games.
- The Rays have won all five meetings with Toronto this season.
- The Rays are 10-1 against AL East opponents this season.
Rays vs. Blue Jays player prop trends
- Jax has recorded three or fewer strikeouts in all three of his previous starts this season and is +104 to register under 3.5 strikeouts.
- Cease has allowed five hits or more in each of his last four starts and is -122 to allow over 4.5 hits in this contest.
- Rays catcher Nick Fortes takes a seven-game hitting streak into action Wednesday and is -130 to extend that streak.
