Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Tropicana Field will be the home to an interesting matchup in the American League East between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Blue Jays will send the former National League Cy Young, R.A. Dickey (10-12) to the hill to take on the Rays and their starter, Jeremy Hellickson (1-2).

For the veteran Dickey, things haven't gone as smoothly since leaving the New York Mets for Toronto before last season, but he has still pitched well for the team during that time. The knuckleball right-hander has gone 4-4 in his last 10 starts and is coming off an impressive no decision performance against the Boston Red Sox. Against current members of the Rays, Dickey has had great success, allowing just 39 hits in 209 at-bats, good for a .187 opponents' batting average. No Tampa Bay player with at least 10 at-bats has an average above .300 against Dickey and just Matt Joyce has multiple home runs (2).

The Rays will look to their 27-year-old pitcher to continue his solid performance this season. He has made just 8 starts this year and has an ERA of 2.98. In his 8 starts, he has struggled to make it deep into the game, lasting 7 innings just once. He is coming off a game against the Baltimore Orioles that saw him give up 8 hits and 3 earned runs in 4.1 innings. Against current Toronto players, he has allowed 52 hits in 225 at-bats, including 8 hits and 3 home runs to Jose Bautista.

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends

Toronto Blue Jays are 65-67-4 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Toronto Blue Jays is 0

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

Tampa Bay Rays are 61-69-7 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Tampa Bay Rays is 0.1

Injuries to Watch

Toronto Blue Jays

08/07/14 3B Brett Lawrie Back 15-day DL (8/6)
07/31/14 1B Dan Johnson Hamstring 15-day DL (7/31)
07/09/14 RF Cole Gillespie Oblique 15-day DL (7/7)
05/04/14 P Brandon Morrow Hand 60-day DL (5/3)
04/14/14 2B Maicer Izturis Knee 60-day DL (4/14)

Tampa Bay Rays

09/01/14 CF Desmond Jennings Knee questionable
06/24/14 LF Jerry Sands Wrist 60-day DL (6/22), out for season
04/08/14 P Matt Moore Elbow 60-day DL (4/8), out for season
03/30/14 2B Tim Beckham Knee 60-day DL (3/30)

Guy's Pick: Take Toronto

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn