Rays vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, May 25, 2023

May 25, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

Two of the league’s top hitters will meet Thursday when the Tampa Bay Rays (36-15) and Toronto Blue Jays (26-24) take to the field at 1:10 PM ET, live on MLB Network. Yandy Diaz is batting .322 for the Rays (-176 favorites on the moneyline) while Bo Bichette leads the underdog Blue Jays (+151) with a .327 average.

Zach Eflin will get the ball for Tampa Bay while Toronto will counter with Alek Manoah.

Rays vs. Blue Jays Odds

Rays odds to win: -176
Blue Jays odds to win: +151
Spread: Rays -1.5
Total: 8.5 runs

Rays vs. Blue Jays Promo Codes

DRAFTKINGS MLB Promo
Bet $5, Win $150 BONUS BETS

BET NOW!
CAESARS MLB Promo
Get Up To $1,500 in Bet Credits
BET NOW!
FANDUEL MLB Promo
Bet $5 Get $200
BET NOW!
BETMGM MLB Promo
$1K First Bet Offer
BET NOW!

Game Time and Information

Date: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Time: 1:10 PM ET
TV: MLB Network

Exclusive Apple TV Friday Night Baseball Pass
Sign Up to Watch Friday Night Baseball Exclusive on Apple TV+
Watch 7 Days For Free

Who Will Win Rays vs. Blue Jays?

Rays and Blue Jays Betting Trends

The Rays have been the moneyline favorite 44 total times this season. They’ve gone 32-12 in those games.

In games it has played as moneyline favorites with odds of -176 or shorter, Tampa Bay has a 23-3 record (winning 88.5% of its games).

The Blue Jays have been underdogs in 15 games this season and won eight (53.3%) of those contests.

Toronto has not entered a game this season with longer moneyline odds than +151.

In the 51 games in which oddsmakers have set an over/under for the Rays, they have combined with opponents to go over the total 30 times (30-18-3).

The Blue Jays and their opponents have hit the over in 25 of their 50 games with a total this season.

Rays Stats & Insights

The Rays are the second-highest scoring team in the majors, averaging six runs per game (304 total).

The Tampa Bay Rays lead baseball with 97 total home runs, averaging 1.9 per game.

The Rays have a league-best .271 batting average.

Tampa Bay strikes out 8.3 times per game to rank 13th in MLB.

The 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings compiled by the Rays pitching staff ranks 22nd in MLB.

Tampa Bay’s 3.70 team ERA ranks fifth among all MLB pitching staffs.

Blue Jays Stats & Insights

The Blue Jays are among the highest scoring teams in the majors, ranking 10th with 241 total runs this season.

Toronto ranks 14th in Major League Baseball with 57 home runs.

The Blue Jays have a team batting average of .265 this season, which ranks third among MLB teams.

Toronto is one of the best teams in baseball at making contact this season, ranking eighth with an average of 8.1 strikeouts per game.

The Blue Jays average 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings as a pitching staff, ninth-most in the league.

Toronto has pitched to a 3.99 ERA this season, which ranks 11th in baseball.

Rays Key Players to Watch

Eflin (6-1) takes the mound for the Rays in his ninth start of the season. He’s put together a 3.45 ERA in 47 2/3 innings pitched, with 52 strikeouts.

Randy Arozarena leads Tampa Bay in home runs (11) and runs batted in (37) this season while batting .305.

Wander Franco has 56 hits and an OBP of .347 to go with a slugging percentage of .480 this season.

Diaz leads Tampa Bay in homers with 11 while also batting a team-best .322 this season.

Josh Lowe’s 11 home runs are most among Tampa Bay batters. He’s driven in 34 runs this season while slugging .614.

Blue Jays Key Players to Watch

The Blue Jays will hand the ball to Manoah (1-4) for his 11th start of the season.

Bichette paces the Blue Jays with nine home runs while putting up a team-high batting average of .327.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has capitalized on opportunities as he paces his team with 34 RBI.

Matt Chapman is batting .301 with 19 doubles, seven home runs and 22 walks.

George Springer has two doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 18 walks while batting .245.

Rays and Blue Jays Injuries

Rays: Zack Littell: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), 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), Brandon Lowe: day-to-day (Neck)

Blue Jays: Santiago Espinal: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Zach Pop: 15 Day IL (Hamstring), Mitchell White: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Chad Green: 60 Day IL (Undisclosed), Hyun-Jin Ryu: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Danny Jansen: day-to-day (Groin)