Blue Jays vs. Rays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, May 22, 2023

May 22, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

Bo Bichette, batting .320 this season, leads the Toronto Blue Jays (25-22) into a matchup with one of the league’s other top hitters, Yandy Diaz (.329 AVG) and the Tampa Bay Rays (34-14). Bichette and the Blue Jays are -111 favorites on the moneyline for the matchup at Tropicana Field, beginning at 6:40 PM ET live on BSSUN.

Chris Bassitt will get the ball for Toronto while Tampa Bay will counter with Trevor Kelley.

Blue Jays vs. Rays Odds

Blue Jays odds to win: -111
Rays odds to win: -108
Spread: Blue Jays -1.5
Total: 9 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Monday, May 22, 2023
Time: 6:40 PM ET
TV: BSSUN

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Who Will Win Blue Jays vs. Rays?

Blue Jays and Rays Betting Trends

The Blue Jays have put together an 18-16 record in games they were favored on the moneyline (winning 52.9% of those games).

Toronto has gone 18-16 (winning 52.9% of its games) when playing as moneyline favorites of -111 or shorter.

This season, the Rays have been the underdog six times and won three of those games.

Tampa Bay is 3-3 this season when entering a game as the underdog by -108 or more on the moneyline.

The Blue Jays have played in 47 games with over/under set, and have combined with opponents to go over the total 22 times (22-23-2).

The Rays and their opponents have hit the over in 27 of their 48 games with a total this season.

Blue Jays Stats & Insights

The Blue Jays are the 13th-highest scoring team in baseball averaging 4.6 runs per game (214 total).

Toronto ranks 18th in MLB play with 50 home runs. They average 1.1 per game.

The Blue Jays’ .257 batting average is 10th-best in MLB.

Toronto strikes out 8.2 times per game, the eighth-fewest mark in MLB.

The pitching staff for the Blue Jays has a collective 9.3 K/9, the seventh-best in MLB.

Toronto has the 11th-ranked team ERA across all MLB pitching staffs (4.01).

Rays Stats & Insights

The Rays are among the highest scoring teams in the majors, ranking second with 290 total runs this season.

Tampa Bay has hit 91 homers to lead Major League Baseball this season.

The Rays rank second in MLB with a .271 team batting average.

Tampa Bay ranks 14th with an average of 8.4 strikeouts per game.

The Rays strike out 8.5 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, 20th in MLB.

Tampa Bay pitchers have a combined ERA of 3.39 ERA this year, second-best in baseball.

Blue Jays Key Players to Watch

The Blue Jays will send Bassitt (5-2) to the mound to make his 10th start of the season. He is 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA and 48 strikeouts through 56 2/3 innings pitched.

Bichette leads Toronto in batting average (.320), home runs (nine) and runs batted in (30) this season.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has collected 50 hits this season and has an OBP of .366. He’s slugging .482 on the year.

Matt Chapman has collected 52 base hits, an OBP of .381 and a slugging percentage of .514 this season.

George Springer has 42 hits and an OBP of .299 to go with a slugging percentage of .344 this season.

Rays Key Players to Watch

The Rays’ Kelley will make his second start of the season.

Diaz leads the Rays with 11 home runs and has put up a team-best batting average of .329.

Randy Arozarena’s 36 runs batted in lead his team.

Wander Franco is hitting .277 with 15 doubles, seven home runs and 16 walks.

Josh Lowe has shown his power as he leads his team with 11 home runs.

Blue Jays and Rays Injuries

Blue Jays: Zach Pop: 15 Day IL (Hamstring), Adam Cimber: 15 Day IL (Rhomboid), Mitchell White: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Chad Green: 60 Day IL (Undisclosed), Hyun-Jin Ryu: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Santiago Espinal: day-to-day (Hamstring)

Rays: Tyler Glasnow: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Drew Rasmussen: 60 Day IL (Flexor strain), Jeffrey Springs: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Garrett Cleavinger: 60 Day IL (Knee), Shane Baz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Shawn Armstrong: 60 Day IL (Neck), Andrew Kittredge: 60 Day IL (Elbow)