Thursday, September 4, 2014

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Thursday night, the Toronto Blue Jays will send Mark Buehrle (11 - 9, 3.50 ERA) to the hill as they face the Tampa Bay Rays and Jake Odorizzi (10 - 11, 4.03 ERA). Both pitchers will be making their 28^th starts of the season.

Mark Buehrle wasn't sharp in his last start and it led to a loss for the veteran lefty. In 6 innings of work, Buehrle allowed 4 runs and 7 hits. He walked a batter and struck out 4. Buehrle looks far removed from the pitcher that started the season so well. He is just 1 - 4 in his last 10 starts and has allowed 3 or more runs 8 times in that stretch. Last season, he finished the year with a 12 - 10 record and a 4.15 ERA in 33 starts.

In 2013, Buehrle was 0 - 2 with a 5.76 ERA in 4 starts against the Rays. This season, he is 2 - 0 in 4 starts against Tampa Bay.

Jake Odorizzi ended his 2 game losing streak by turning in a solid performance in his last outing. In the victory, Odorizzi hurled 7 shutout innings and allowed just a hit and 3 walks while striking out 7. Odorizzi had allowed 11 runs in his 2 losses but rebounded nicely in his last start. Despite the short losing streak, Odorizzi is 6 - 4 in his last 10 starts. Last season, Odorizzi was 0-1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 4 starts and 3 relief appearances.

Odorizzi pitched to a no-decision in his only start against Toronto in 2013. Earlier this season, Odorizzi beat the Blue Jays after holding them to 3 runs and 6 hits in 6.2 innings.

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends

Toronto Blue Jays are 66-67-4 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Toronto Blue Jays is 0

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

Tampa Bay Rays are 62-70-7 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Tampa Bay Rays is 0.1

Injuries to Watch

Toronto Blue Jays

09/03/14 3B Brett Lawrie Back 60-day DL (8/6), out for season
07/22/14 RF John Mayberry Wrist 15-day DL (7/21)
07/09/14 RF Cole Gillespie Oblique 15-day DL (7/7)
04/14/14 2B Maicer Izturis Knee 60-day DL (4/14)

Tampa Bay Rays

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)

Tony's Pick: Take Toronto

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