4% #916 Tampa Bay Rays o4.5 runs (-120) vs. Toronto Blue Jays —
If you saw these two teams play yesterday, this play was on my mind early … two of the top pitchers in the division square off, but Tampa has the edge.
While Kikuchi has an impressive record for the Jays this season, his ERA is definitely a step higher than McClanahan in this battle of the AL East lefties … The Rays have put up nearly 7 runs/game on average vs. LHP this season and have hit a combined .300 as a team. They have gone over this 4.5 run marker in 7 of the L8, while also putting up 5+ runs in 5 of the L6 games against the division.
They are a big favorite here with McClanahan, but when they are a F of (-150) or more they are putting up almost 6 runs/game!
Toronto’s staff has allowed 5+ runs on average against AL East opponents and they have allowed over 5 runs/game in the L7 overall. Even with Kikuchi on the mound, I find it hard to imagine that the Jays can shut down this Rays offense in consecutive games.