The Toronto Blue Jays have successfully taken the first two of a five-game series at home against Tampa Bay and will look to keep their winning ways going on Sunday in a doubleheader against the Rays.
Can Toronto get a third straight against Tampa, or will the Rays bounce back with ace Shane McClanahan on the mound?
Find out in our free MLB picks and predictions for Rays vs. Blue Jays on Saturday, July 2.
Rays vs Blue Jays odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
Toronto opened as -140 favorites on the moneyline, with Tampa listed as +120 underdogs. The total is set at 7.5, juiced to the Under at -125.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until first pitch and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.
Rays vs Blue Jays predictions
- Prediction: Blue Jays ML (-140)
- Prediction: Under 7.5 (-125)
- Best bet: Gausman Under 4.5 hits (+120)
Picks made on 7/01/2022 at 11:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the 2022 MLB season, here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users at FanDuel can bet $5 and get $200 in free bets — regardless of if your bet wins or loses! Sign Up Now
B) New users can get two risk-free bets up to $2,000 at PointsBet! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only
Rays vs Blue Jays game info
• Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
• Date: Saturday, July 2, 2022
• First pitch: 12:07 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports Sun, Sportsnet
Rays vs Blue Jays betting preview
Starting pitchers
Shane McClanahan (8-3, 1.77 ERA): The left-hander leads the MLB in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts through 91 1-3 innings of work. The 25-year-old southpaw is coming off a 10-strikeout performance against Pittsburgh to improve to 8-3 on the season.
Kevin Gausman (6-6, 2.93 ERA): The current FIP leader has rebounded well after a bit of a rough month overall. Gausman pitched seven scoreless innings in his last start which came against Boston, allowing just four hits and striking out 10.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Betting trend to know
Blue Jays are 14-3 in their last 17 opening games of a double-header. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Blue Jays
Rays vs Blue Jays picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Moneyline analysis
The Blue Jays hit the snot out of the ball on Canada Day, whopping the Rays by a score of 9-2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, and Teoscar Hernandez remain hot at the plate, and Toronto has gotten immense help from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Cavan Biggio at the bottom of the order.
A glaring discrepancy between these two teams is the Jays rank fifth in the MLB in team home runs, while the Rays sit at 23rd in the league. Other than infielder Isaac Paredes, no other Tampa players have more than 10 homers on the season. Meanwhile, the Jays have five with such feat.
Left-hander Shane McClanahan takes the mound in Game 1 on Saturday. The current AL Cy Young odds favorite has fared even better on the road this year with a better WHIP and ERA away from Tropicana Field. During day games, McClanahan boasts a 4-1 record on the season.
For the Blue Jays, Kevin Gausman is also having an All-Star level season and will look to lower his ERA against a Rays lineup that is extremely banged up. Manuel Margot, Brandon Lowe, and Mike Zunino did the most damage against Gausman the last time he pitched against Tampa, and all three players are on the shelf for this one.
Both bullpens have really struggled this season, with only Minnesota as the other American League team that has a worse team ERA for relievers. Although Toronto's bullpen can supply headaches and McClanahan is scary to bet against, the Jays' offense is too much of an edge over Tampa's to fade.
Prediction: Blue Jays moneyline (-140 at bet365)
Over/Under analysis
Despite yesterday's high-scoring affair, we could be in for the opposite on Saturday. The Under has been a historical success between these two AL East rivals, going 11-2-3 in their last 16 meetings. The Under is also a dominant 4-1-2 in the last six games played in Toronto.
I wouldn't be surprised if Gausman puts in another shutout performance with so many key Rays players hurt, and McClanahan has allowed more than three earned runs just once this season.
Unless the bullpens completely break down, taking the Under 7.5 seems like a no-brainer.
Prediction: Under 7.5 (-125 at bet365)
Best bet
In 42 career plate appearances against Kevin Gausman, Rays' players are hitting just .167 off the right-hander with 11 strikeouts and only two extra-base hits.
Gausman looked incredibly sharp in his last outing, and there's no reason he can't do the same against a Rays lineup that is without the three batters that gave the right-hander the most trouble last time out.
Losers of four straight, the Rays haven't scored more than three runs in a single game during that span.
Pick: Gausman Under 4.5 hits (+120 at bet365)
