Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 9/20/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Friday, September 20, 2024

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

The Toronto Blue Jays (72-80) are en route to Tropicana Field on Friday where they will try to beat the Tampa Bay Rays (74-78). The pitchers expected to start will be Jose Berrios and Tyler Alexander.

The Blue Jays have tallied 269 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 151 balls out of the park. Toronto has a slugging percentage of .394 and have struck out 1,155 times, while taking a walk on 474 occasions. As a team, the Toronto Blue Jays are recording 4.2 runs per game, which has them sitting at 19th in baseball. They have recorded 613 RBI's as well as 1,232 hits so far this year, while their team batting average is .242. They have earned a total of 643 runs while having a team on-base percentage of .314.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.63 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.27. Blue Jays pitchers have yielded 200 home runs and 698 total runs (22nd in baseball). Toronto has yielded 1,234 base hits (8.3 per 9 innings) and also 638 earned runs. The Blue Jays hold a team earned run average of 4.29 on the campaign (22nd in MLB), and their staff has rung up 1,235 batters. They have walked 469 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.48 as a squad for the year.

The Blue Jays have sent 510 relievers to the hill this year. The relievers have inherited 230 runners so far this season and 31.3% of them crossed the plate. They have accumulated 36 saves on the campaign and have blown 21 of 57 chances to save the game. The Blue Jays relief pitchers have a save percentage of 63.2% and stepped onto the hill in 139 save situations. The relief pitchers have tallied 79 holds for the season (16th in the league). Blue Jays bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill with players on base 148 times in addition to having 121 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Blue Jays have turned 70.6% of baseballs in play into outs in their 12,054 innings, which has them sitting 8th in baseball. The Toronto Blue Jays have a total of 4,018 putouts this year, in addition to 1,261 assists and 88 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .984 which puts them in 24th in pro baseball, and they have turned 116 double plays.

Berrios has thrown 1,396 innings and has racked up 1,333 punch outs in his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 4.05 (629 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.228. He has allowed 1,302 hits (8.4 hits per 9 innings) and has had 413 walks. Berrios (99-75 career mark) sits with a FIP of 3.99 while going up against 5,867 batters in the major leagues.

The Rays have a SLG% of .370 and they score 3.81 runs per game (29th in the league). They have tallied 239 doubles, while taking a walk 473 times and putting up 579 runs. Tampa Bay has accumulated 140 long balls over the course of the season to go along with 540 runs batted in. They have been called out on strikes on 1,400 occasions (6th in MLB) and have earned a total of 1,174 hits. The Tampa Bay Rays have compiled a team OBP of .304 as well as a team batting average of .231 for the year.

The Tampa Bay pitching staff have allowed 639 runs on the season while having an ERA of 3.86 (581 earned runs relinquished). They have conceded 193 home runs and they allow 4.25 runs per 9 innings (11th in the league). The Rays have a team WHIP of 1.214 in addition to having a FIP of 4.17 as a squad for the season. They currently have a strikeout to walk ratio of 8.70 (1,302 strikeouts vs 426 free passes). They are sitting at 11th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 1,218.

Tampa Bay has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 66 save chances and they have come away with 46 saves. They rank 4th in MLB with a save percentage of 69.7%, and they have sent 510 relievers to the hill so far this year. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 189 times in high leverage situations and on 118 occasions with runners on base. Tampa Bay bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 23.8% out of their 172 inherited base runners. With 166 save situations, the Rays have compiled 98 holds and also 20 blown saves.

The Tampa Bay Rays have gotten 105 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .984 (22nd in MLB). The Rays have 1,199 assists, 86 errors and have 4,064 putouts for the season. In 12,192 innings played, the Rays are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 70.7% (7th in the majors).

During his career, Alexander has surrendered 469 hits and he has 351 punch outs in 439 frames. He has allowed 227 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.289 and a FIP of 4.6. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.62 and he has faced 1,865 batters during his pro baseball career. Alexander (17-28 win-loss mark in his career) has earned a 4.65 ERA and has allowed 9.6 hits per 9 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Toronto

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