Rays vs. Blue Jays Game 1 Prediction and Odds for Tuesday, Sept. 13 (Back UNDER in Strong Pitching Matchup)
By Peter Dewey
Three straight losses have pushed the Tampa Bay Rays back into the final wild card spot in the American League, as they are half a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays entering Tuesday’s doubleheader.
Toronto is hot at the right time, winning eight of its last 10 games, and it has ace Alek Manoah (14-7, 2.42 ERA) on the mound in Game 1. Tampa Bay counters with lefty Jeffrey Springs (7-4, 2.54 ERA), who has yet to allow a run in the month of September.
Springs did pitch just three innings in his last start, as the Rays appear to be limiting him down the stretch as they prepare for the playoffs. Does that play a factor into this game and how we bet it?
First, let’s check out the odds from FanDuel:
Rays vs. Blue Jays Odds, Run Line and Total
Rays vs. Blue Jays Prediction and Pick
The Rays have been money in Springs’ starts this season, going 14-6, but I’m not sure that we should blindly trust that trend if he’s only going to pitch a few innings on Tuesday.
Instead of that, I’m going to look to the UNDER with Manoah on the mound for Toronto and the Rays having an elite bullpen.
Tampa Bay ranks sixth in baseball in bullpen ERA, so it should be able to keep the Jays down during the middle innings if Springs is lifted early.
The other benefit is the fact that Manoah is pitching some of his best baseball as of late, compiling a 0.95 ERA over his last four starts, striking out 27 batters in 28.1 innings.
Even though the Jays have one of the better offenses in MLB, this pitching matchup is too good to expect nine or more runs.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.