The Toronto Blue Jays will look to Roy Halladay tonight, Friday July 24, as they get set to host the Tampa Bay Rays who are 5-1 against the bluebirds this season. MLB oddsmakers at Sportsbetting.com have the Blue Jays as -150 moneyline favorites over the Rays (+130) with the over/under set at 7.5 runs. Be sure to get your MLB Pick: Rays vs Jays Odds & Prediction in now at Sportsbetting.com
The Rays (52-44) have lost back to back road games to the White Sox and are 4-3 during their last eight road games. They are 22-29 on the road where they average 4.82 runs for and 4.55 runs against. The Rays are ranked 5 in hitting with a batting average of .268 and are averaging 5.2 runs per game this season with OPS of .796. Tonight’s starter for the Rays is righty Matt Garza (6-7, 3.80 ERA) who is 0-2 in his last two starts with a 6.06 ERA. He received a no-decision his last time out against the Royals after allowing three runs in five innings, he walked five — including one with the bases loaded. Garza has done well against the Blue Jays in his career. He is 4-3 with a 1.89 ERA in seven career starts against them and 2-2 with a 0.91 ERA in four career starts in Toronto. The Rays hottest bat against the Rays this season is Pat Burrell with two homers, four runs and three RBI’s.
The Jays (47-49) have been on and off during their last six home games where they went 3-3; they are 4-6 in their last ten games. They are 28-21 at home where they average 4.65 runs for and 4.27 runs against. The Blue Jays are ranked 4 in hitting with a batting average of .268 and are averaging 4.8 runs per game this season with OPS of .767. The Jays bring out big gunner Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.73 ERA) who is 1-1 in his last two starts with a 3.52 ERA. Halladay pitched his fourth complete game of the season and earned his first win in five starts in the Jays' 3-1 victory over Boston on Sunday. Halladay gave up a run in the first inning but shut out the Red Sox from there, allowing seven hits and no walks. It was the seventh game this season (including an injury-shortened three-inning start) in which Halladay did not issue a single walk. Halladay is 0-2 in two starts against the Rays, with an ERA of 3.46 in 13 innings. Marco Scutaro is posting numbers far above his career averages, batting .286 with a .383 on-base percentage and a .431 slugging percentage. Left fielder Adam Lind extended his career-high hitting streak to 13 games. He has recorded 10 extra-base hits over that span
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Toronto.
- Under is 4-0 in Garzas last 4 road starts vs. Blue Jays.
- Under is 4-0 in Garzas last 4 starts vs. Blue Jays.
- Rays are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Rays are 4-1 in Garzas last 5 starts vs. Blue Jays.
- Under is 28-11 in the last 39 meetings.
- Under is 7-3 in Halladays last 10 home starts vs. Rays.
- Blue Jays are 2-5 in Halladays last 7 starts vs. Rays.
MLB Pick: Rays vs Jays
When: Fri, July 24, 2009 7:07 PM ET
Line: Sportsbetting.com
Pick: Jays -150
Point-Spreads.com MLB Pick: Rays vs Jays Odds & Prediction
The Bottom Line: Halladay is more comfortable pitching at home, while the Rays pitcher is slumping. Go Jays! Be sure to get your MLB Pick: Rays vs Jays Odds & Prediction in now at Sportsbetting.com and receive a 10% deposit bonus on your initial deposit!
