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The Toronto Blue Jays visit the 2-1 Tampa Bay Rays in the first game of a four-game set at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida tonight. The first pitch at Tropicana Field is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET. The oddsmaker has listed the Rays as a -120 to -125 betting line favorite depending on where you place your action. The total line for this match is offered at 8 runs.
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In their last game the Blue Jays lost to the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 where they only scored one run on seven hits and A.J. Happ took the loss giving up three earned runs in seven innings of work.
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The Rays beat the New York Yankees 4-1 in their last game where Corey Dickerson and Derek Norris each had two RBI and Alex Cobb got the win giving up one earned run on four hits in five innings of work.
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<p>
Early on in the season the Blue Jays rank 27th in the Majors in runs scored and 12th in team ERA.
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The Rays rank 10th in the Majors in runs scored and 11th in team ERA.
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<h2>
Pitching Match Up<br />
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<p>
Toronto: Marcus Stroman (0-0, 0.00 ERA)<br />
Tampa Bay: Blake Snell (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
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<p>
Marcus Stroman gets the call for the Blue Jays in this series opener and last season he went 9-10 with an ERA of 4.37 and a WHIP of 1.29. While his ERA was more than a run lower in the 2nd half he went 2-6 with an ERA of 3.68 and in the first half went 7-4 with an ERA of 4.89. In seven career starts against Tampa Bay Stroman is 3-4 with an ERA of 4.84 and last season at Tampa Bay he was2-1 with a solid ERA of 2.86. The Blue Jays have lost 10 of his last 11 road starts and have lost his last five starts facing a team with a winning record.
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Blake Snell takes the hill for the Rays tonight and last season he was 6-8 with an ERA of 3.54 and a WHIP of 1.62. Last season in 10 home starts Snell got five wins and had an ERA of 3.04. As a rookie last season he had 98 strikeouts in 89 innings of work, but also walked 51 batters. Last season he faced the Blue Jays twice getting shelled in the first start giving up five earned runs in less than two innings in a Rays loss and in the 2nd start only gave up one earned run on two hits in six innings in a win. Tampa Bay has lost five of Snell’s last seven starts facing a team with a losing record.
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<h2>
Toronto at Tampa Bay Betting Angles<br />
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<p>
The Rays are 58-28 in their last 86 home games against the Blue Jays.
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In the last 12 games between these teams the Over record is 9-3.
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This season the Rays are 2-1 at home and the Blue Jays are 0-2 on the road.
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<h2>
Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records<br />
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Toronto Blue Jays: 0-2 SU / O/U 0-2 / Run Line W/L 1-1<br />
Tampa Bay Rays: 2-1 SU / O/U 1-2 / Run Line W/L 2-1
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<h2>
Toronto at Tampa Bay Key Betting Trends<br />
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TOR is 1-6 in their last 7 overall
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TOR is 0-4 in their last 4 road games
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TOR has an Under record of 12-4-1 in their last 17 road games vs. a left-handed starter
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TB is 4-1 in their last 5 overall
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TB 4-9 in their last 13 home games
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TB has an Under record of 4-1-1 in their last 6 games
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<p>
Key Player Injuries BLUE JAYS
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<ul>
<li>
[CF] 04/03/2017 - Dalton Pompey 10-day DL (3/30) ( Concussion )
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[P] 04/03/2017 - Glenn Sparkman 10-day DL (3/30) ( Thumb )
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[P] 04/02/2017 - Roberto Osuna 10-day DL (4/1) ( Neck )
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[P] 04/02/2017 - Bo Schultz 10-day DL (3/30) ( Elbow )
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<p>
RAYS
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<ul>
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[P] 04/03/2017 - Brad Boxberge 10-day DL (4/1) ( Arm )
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[LF] 04/01/2017 - Colby Rasmus 10-day DL (4/1) ( Hip )
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[3B] 04/01/2017 - Matt Duffy 10-day DL (4/1) ( Heel )
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[P] 04/01/2017 - Nathan Eovaldi 60-day DL (3/8) ( Elbow )
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[C] 04/01/2017 - Wilson Ramos 60-day DL (4/1) ( Knee )
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