What a difference a couple of weeks makes. The Toronto Blue Jays were left for dead in the American League postseason race but they wake up this morning holding the top wild-card spot.
But the Jays have no time to get complacent as they welcome the best team in the AL to town — the Tampa Bay Rays. Can Toronto stay hot, or will Tampa Bay bring the Jays back down to Earth?
Find out with our free MLB betting picks and predictions for Rays vs. Blue Jays on Monday, September 13.
Rays vs Blue Jays game info
• Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
• Date: Monday, September 13, 2021
• Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports Sun, Sportsnet
Rays vs Blue Jays odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Rays vs Blue Jays betting preview
Starting pitchers
Ryan Yarbrough (8-4, 4.90 ERA): Yarbrough is going behind an opener in this one, but he will be the bulk innings pitcher. Since the All-star break, the lefty has a 6.35 ERA but he has had the Jays’ number over the course of his career, owning a 2.47 ERA against them since 2018.
Alek Manoah (5-2, 3.71 ERA): Manoah has been everything the Jays could have dreamed of when they called him up in May. But is the right-hander hitting a bit of a rookie wall? Manoah has surrendered nine runs on 10 hits over his last two starts and the Rays aren’t exactly the type of team you “get right” against.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Rays: Nick Anderson RP (Questionable), Wander Franco SS (Out), Matt Wisler RP (Out), Ryan Thompson RP (Out).
Blue Jays: Cavan Biggio UTL (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Rays are 7-2 in the last nine games when they are the visiting team against the Blue Jays. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Blue Jays.
Moneyline pick
The Blue Jays are one of — if not the — hottest teams in baseball. They have won 14 of their last 16 games to climb into the top spot in the AL wild-card race and have scored a ridiculous 44 runs in their last three games. But this is the Rays.
The Rays not only have the best record in the AL but have long been the Blue Jays' kryptonite. Toronto has dropped seven of its last 10 games against Tampa Bay which includes several choke jobs along the way.
Yes, Yarbrough has struggled in the second half of the season, but, like the Rays, has been a huge thorn in the side of the Jays. The soft-tossing lefty twists the Jays' hitters in knots. In 21 2-3 innings against them this season, he is limiting them to a .195 batting average.
While Manoah has been excellent this season, he has a 6.23 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP over his last five starts and has had mixed results against the Rays this season.
And the Rays are in first place for a reason: They have one of MLB’s top offenses, the bullpen is second to none, and they are the best-managed team in the game. When you consider how inconsistent the Jays’ relievers have been, getting the Rays as underdogs is great value.
PREDICTION: Rays (+110)
Over/Under pick
The Blue Jays offense is one of baseball’s best, but they have taken it to another level recently. Their recent surge has them leading the big leagues in runs per game, OPS, and home runs, while ranking second in batting average.
While Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, George Springer (yeah you get the point), and Co. will be the lineup that gets the headlines in this matchup, don’t overlook the Rays, who rank second in scoring, sixth in home runs, and ninth in OPS.
With the Rays getting to go against Manoah, who hasn’t been as sharp of late, and what has been an inconsistent bullpen all season, Tampa Bay should find some success at the dish in this one.
Plus, the Over is 6-1-1 in Tampa’s last eight games and 4-0-1 in Toronto’s last five. All things considered, that trend is a good bet to continue here.
PREDICTION: Over 9 (-110)
Rays vs Blue Jays betting card
- Rays (+110)
- Over 9 (-110)
Picks made on 9/13/2021 at 12:55 p.m. ET
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