Friday, April 29, 2016

Tropicana Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Aaron Sanchez vs. Drew Smyly

The Toronto Blue Jays visit Tropicana Field on Friday to play the Tampa Bay Rays. The probable starters are Aaron Sanchez for the Blue Jays and Drew Smyly for the Rays. The opening line for this matchup has Toronto at +100 and Tampa Bay at -110. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Blue Jays have a 8-13-2 over/under record and a 11-12-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 48% of the time. The Rays are 10-11-0 against the run line and have a 5-13-3 over/under record. They cover the spread 48% of the time.

The Blue Jays head into this matchup with a 10-13 record, including 5-6 on the road. Starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez has a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 3.33 and a WHIP of 1.15. He has 23 strikeouts over his 24.1 innings pitched and he has given up 20 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.93. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.03 and they have given up 62 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .259 against the bullpen while being struck out 59 times and walking 21 times this season. As a team, Toronto has allowed 8.57 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.37 batters per nine. They are 16th in the league in team earned run average at 4.00. The Blue Jays pitchers have collectively given up 193 base hits and 90 earned runs. They have allowed 21 home runs this season and they allow 0.9 homers per nine innings as a staff. Toronto as a pitching staff has walked 69 batters and struck out 166. They walk 3.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.4 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.29 and their FIP as a unit is 3.94.

As a team, Toronto is batting .238, good for 22nd in the league while putting together a .224 average away from home. The Blue Jays hold a .390 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .318 which is good for 12th in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 7.83 hits per game. Josh Donaldson comes into this game hitting .297 and his on-base percentage is at .379. He has 27 hits this season along with 21 runs scored and 19 runs batted in. He's struck out 25 times and has walked 10 times. Jose Bautista is hitting .247 and he has an on-base percentage of .394. He has totaled 19 hits so far while scoring 14 runs and he's driven in 16. He has walked 20 times and has struck out 20 times. The Blue Jays have 180 hits, including 40 doubles and 23 home runs. They've stolen 9 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 2 times. Toronto has walked 80 times this season and they've struck out 217 times as a unit. They've left 154 men on base and have a team OPS of .707. They score 3.96 runs per contest and have scored a total of 91 runs so far this year.

Tampa Bay comes into this matchup with a 7-6 home record and a 10-11 overall mark. With an earned run average of 2.51, Drew Smyly has a 1-2 record and a 0.73 WHIP. He has 33 strikeouts over the 28.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 16 hits. He has allowed 5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 2.8. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.54 and they have given up 45 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .205 against the Rays bullpen while being struck out 49 times and walking 15 times this season. As a team, Tampa Bay has allowed 7.71 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.21 batters per nine. They are 5th in the league in team earned run average at 3.20. The Rays pitchers as a team have surrendered 159 base knocks and 66 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 22 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Tampa Bay as a staff has walked 44 hitters and struck out 190. They give up a walk 2.1 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.09 while their FIP as a staff is 3.40.

As a team, they are batting .220, good for 30th in the league while putting together a .206 average at home. The Rays hold a .382 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .290 which is good for 29th in baseball. They rank 30th in baseball with 7.19 hits per contest. Evan Longoria comes into this matchup batting .241 and he has an OBP of .275. He has 21 hits this year along with 10 runs scored and 9 RBI. He's struck out 18 times and has walked on 4 occasions. Logan Forsythe is hitting .307 and he has an OBP of .388. He has collected 23 hits so far while he's scored 13 runs and drove in 8. He has earned a walk 9 times and has punched out 20 times. The Rays as a unit have 151 base hits, including 36 doubles and 24 homers. They have 10 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 6 times. Tampa Bay as a team has walked 55 times this year and they have struck out 196 times. They've had 135 men left on base and have an OPS of .671. They score 3.38 runs per game and have totaled 71 runs so far this season.

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends

The Toronto Blue Jays are 8-13-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Toronto Blue Jays are 11-12-0 against the run line so far this season

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 5-13-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 10-11-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Toronto Blue Jays

04/22/16 1B Chris Colabello Suspension expected to miss 80 games
04/10/16 P Franklin Morales Arm 15-day DL (4/7)
04/04/16 P Aaron Loup Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 2B Devon Travis Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Bo Schultz Hip 15-day DL (3/25)

Tampa Bay Rays

04/10/16 P Chase Whitley Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Brad Boxberge Abdominal 15-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 P Alex Cobb Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Tony's Pick: Take the Blue Jays

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