Toronto (59-66) at Tampa Bay (62-65)
When: Wednesday, August 23rd 2017
Where: Tropicana Field, St Petersburg, FL
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: Sportsnet, FSN Sun
Opening Odds: Toronto -125/8.5
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The Tampa Bay Rays look to keep the bats going when they host the fading Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a three-game series on Wednesday night in St. Petersburg. The Tampa Bay Rays have won back-to-back games for the first time since opening August with three in a row after Tuesday’s 6-5 victory in the opener. Kevin Kiermaier has sparked the Rays offense since returning from a two-month stint on the disabled list, going 7-for-17 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored in the last four games. Tampa Bay, which sits four games back in the race for the American League’s second wild card, has scored 15 runs in the last three games after being shutout five times this month. Wilson Ramos has heated up with 14 hits in his last seven games. The Blue Jays are slowly dropping out of the AL wild card race with four straight losses to start their road trip after leaving the tying run at third base with one out in Tuesday’s setback. Josh Donaldson continues to torment the Rays pitching staff with a solo homer in the series opener – his seventh HR and 11th RBI against Tampa Bay this season. Jose Bautista has 31 career homers in 152 games versus the Rays, but is just 9-for-55 with 21 strikeouts against them in 2017.
Pitchers: Blue Jays – Marcus Stroman (11-6, 2.99 ERA) | Rays – Austin Pruitt (6-4, 5.37)
Marcus Stroman looks to keep his good run going and will be seeking his fourth straight quality start on Wednesday and seventh in nine games overall. He limited Tampa Bay to two runs on six hits over 6.1 innings last Wednesday to improve to 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in three outings against them this season. Stroman has given up one home run in his last 10 outings after allowing three in back-to-back starts in June. Corey Dickerson is 8-for-24 with two homers versus Stroman, who is 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 10 career starts against the Rays.
Austin Pruitt looks to get back on track after allowing six runs on 11 hits and two walks against Seattle last week – his second straight loss. Pruitt had three consecutive quality starts prior to his last two losses, allowing four runs and 16 hits over 18.1 innings combined. Pruitt is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in three relief outings versus Toronto.
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This is a great matchup for Toronto to get back into the win column and snap the Rays mini win-streak. Look for the Jays to tee-off on Pruitt while Stroman mows down the Rays.
Pick: Blue Jays -120
TRENDS:
- Blue Jays are 10-2 in their last 12 Wednesday games.
- Blue Jays are 5-2 in their last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Blue Jays are 5-2 in their last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Blue Jays are 5-2 in their last 7 games on astroturf.
- Blue Jays are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Blue Jays are 7-3 in their last 10 games following a loss.
- Blue Jays are 6-14 in their last 20 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Blue Jays are 0-5 in their last 5 road games.
- Blue Jays are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Blue Jays are 0-4 in their last 4 overall.
- Blue Jays are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Blue Jays are 4-1 in Stroman’s last 5 starts vs. American League East.
- Blue Jays are 8-2 in Stroman’s last 10 starts on astroturf.
- Blue Jays are 4-1 in Stroman’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Blue Jays are 10-4 in Stroman’s last 14 Wednesday starts.
- Blue Jays are 13-6 in Stroman’s last 19 starts.
- Blue Jays are 1-4 in Stroman’s last 5 starts with 6 days of rest.
- Blue Jays are 1-5 in Stroman’s last 6 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Rays are 5-11 in their last 16 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Rays are 3-7 in their last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 Wednesday games.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 home games.
- Rays are 3-8 in their last 11 vs. American League East.
- Rays are 3-8 in their last 11 overall.
- Rays are 3-8 in their last 11 games on astroturf.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 during game 2 of a series.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a win.
- Rays are 1-4 in Pruitt’s last 5 starts.
- Under is 6-1 in Blue Jays last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Blue Jays last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 5-1 in Blue Jays last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Blue Jays last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-1 in Blue Jays last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Blue Jays last 5 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Blue Jays last 5 Wednesday games.
- Under is 7-2 in Blue Jays last 9 on astroturf.
- Under is 6-2 in Blue Jays last 8 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 6-2 in Blue Jays last 8 games following a loss.
- Over is 18-7-1 in Blue Jays last 26 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-2 in Blue Jays last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Blue Jays last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 7-3 in Blue Jays last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Stroman’s last 4 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Stroman’s last 5 starts vs. American League East.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Stroman’s last 7 starts on astroturf.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Stroman’s last 6 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Stroman’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Under is 4-1 in Stroman’s last 5 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 3-1-2 in Stroman’s last 6 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Stroman’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3-1 in Stroman’s last 11 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-0 in Rays last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1 in Rays last 7 games following a win.
- Under is 14-3 in Rays last 17 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 11-3 in Rays last 14 home games.
- Under is 14-4 in Rays last 18 on astroturf.
- Over is 14-4 in Rays last 18 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 23-7-1 in Rays last 31 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 16-6 in Rays last 22 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Rays last 26 overall.
- Under is 5-2 in Rays last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 11-5-1 in Rays last 17 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 13-6-1 in Rays last 20 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 6-0 in Pruitt’s last 6 starts overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Pruitt’s last 4 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Pruitt’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Blue Jays are 4-1 in Stroman’s last 5 road starts vs. Rays.
- Blue Jays are 31-63 in the last 94 meetings in Tampa Bay.
