The Tampa Bay Rays will look to complete a four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays when the AL East rivals wrap up their series at Rogers Centre on Thursday afternoon. Tampa has dominated the season series and enters with all the momentum after outscoring Toronto 23-5 over the first three games, while the Blue Jays continue to slide toward the trade deadline amid prolonged offensive struggles. Our Rays vs. Blue Jays prediction breaks down the best betting value, odds, and player props for July 23, including why the Rays are worth backing as underdogs despite their recent dominance.
Rays vs. Blue Jays prediction
Tampa Bay Rays moneyline +100 best odds @ ToonieBet
Rays moneyline
These are clearly two teams headed in opposite directions right now, and we’re getting exceptional value at even-money odds on the surging Rays to complete the four-game sweep of the struggling Blue Jays.
Tampa is 8-1 versus the Blue Jays this season and has outscored Toronto 23-5 in the first three games of the series, so it’s a little surprising to see the Rays as underdogs in this matchup at some online sportsbooks.
The Blue Jays have had offensive struggles all season long, but they’ve particularly had problems against left-handed pitching, slashing just .214/.293/.351 with a .644 OPS as a team. Only the Seattle Mariners have a lower team OPS (.635) against southpaws this season.
Additionally, the Rays have the advantage when comparing recent bullpen workloads. All eight relievers should be available for Tampa on Thursday as everyone has thrown 25 pitches or less over the last three days. Toronto, meanwhile, used six arms out of the bullpen on Wednesday night and has three relievers that have thrown 42 pitches or more over the last three days.
As always, shop around for the most favourable MLB odds at the best MLB betting sites before locking in any wagers on our Rays vs. Blue Jays prediction.
Rays vs. Blue Jays odds
| Rays moneyline odds | -110 |
| Blue Jays moneyline odds | -110 |
| Run line odds | Blue Jays -1.5 (+180), Rays +1.5 (-220) |
| Game total | Over 8.5 (-110), Under 8.5 (-110) |
| Date/time | July 23, 3:07 p.m. ET |
Betting the Rays (59-42 SU, 58-42-1 ATS, 46-53-1 o/u)
The Rays have rallied for three straight wins against Toronto after entering the series on a five-game losing streak.
Tampa sits atop the AL East standings with an impressive AL-best record of 59-42, good enough for a 2.5-game lead over the New York Yankees.
This team relies on timely hitting and excellent baserunning to produce enough runs for its stout pitching staff, although the Rays have exploded for 23 runs across the first three games of this series with Toronto.
Betting the Blue Jays (46-56 SU, 45-56 ATS, 54-47-1 o/u)
The Blue Jays are crumbling with less than two weeks before the MLB trade deadline, with just one win in their last eight games to fall 10 games below .500.
Offensively, the team is a complete disaster, scoring two runs or less in 12 of their last 19 games. They’ve managed just six total runs over their last five games to sink their average to a league-worst 3.94 runs per game.
It’s looking more and more like Toronto will be a seller at the trade deadline, especially with a six-game road trip on the horizon with stops in Boston and Washington.
Probable starting pitchers
Tampa Bay: LHP Ian Seymour (6-2, 4.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 10.51 K/9)
The Blue Jays can expect to see a lot of junk when Seymour takes the mound against them on Thursday afternoon. The crafty southpaw relies heavily on his devastating changeup (.132 opponents’ batting average and .185 xBA) to right-handed batters, while also mixing in a healthy diet of sweepers and sinkers. His fastball tops out at around 91 mph and he throws it just 26% of the time.
Seymour has struggled mightily this month, owning an ugly 6.11 ERA across four starts. However, he does have an impressive 27 strikeouts over those 17 2/3 innings.
The lefty also has some drastic home/away splits: 3-2, 3.89 ERA at home; 3-0, 6.23 ERA on the road.
Toronto: RHP Shane Bieber (1-1, 5.70 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 7.23 K/9)
Bieber turned in his best start of the year the last time he took the mound against the White Sox, holding them scoreless over six innings on three hits while striking out six. He desperately needed a good outing after faltering in his previous four starts.
The veteran right-hander’s control has been suspect this season, walking 12 batters in just short of 24 innings pitched. He’s also surrendered seven home runs and 15 earned runs in that span.
Bieber’s off-speed pitches (knuckle curve, cutter, and slider) have been absolutely hammered this season, but this four-seamer and changeup have been relatively effective. He should continue to struggle until he can find control of his secondary pitches.
Weather
Forecasts are calling for sunny skies and temperatures around 25 C this afternoon at Rogers Centre. Winds will blow out to centre field at 10 mph.
Notable injuries
The following notable players are on the injured list for Tampa Bay:
- OF Gavin Lux (shoulder)
- OF Jake Fraley (groin)
- P Steven Matz (ankle)
- P Ryan Pepiot (hip)
The following notable players are on the injured list for Toronto:
- OF Jesus Sanchez (ankle)
- P Yimi Garcia (elbow)
- P Max Scherzer (back)
- OF Addison Barger (elbow)
- OF Anthony Santander (shoulder)
- P Joe Mantiply (knee)
- P Jose Berrios (elbow)
- P Cody Ponce (knee)
- P Bowden Francis (elbow)
- OF Jonatan Clase (foot) is day-to-day
Rays vs. Blue Jays betting trends
- The Rays are 8-1 SU vs. the Blue Jays this season.
- Toronto has hit the team total under in 15 of its last 20 games.
- The Rays have hit the F5 moneyline in 17 of their last 25 games.
Rays vs. Blue Jays player prop trends
- Chandler Simpson has hit safely in five straight games and 17 of his last 20. He’s -250 to extend that streak.
- Bieber has thrown four strikeouts or fewer in four of his five starts this season and is -155 to record under 4.5 strikeouts.
- Bieber has walked two or more batters in four straight starts and is -125 to record over 1.5 walks. He has an 11.1% walk rate this season.
- Victor Mesa Jr. has exceeded 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs in four straight games and eight of his last 10. He’s +100 to beat that mark again Thursday.
