Three straight wins have kept the Rays (59-42) in control of the AL East. Just days ahead of August 3rd\u2019s trade deadline, Tampa Bay is looking the part of a World Series contender. The same can\u2019t be said for the Blue Jays (46-56), who might be the biggest disappointment in baseball this season. If Toronto is going to make a miraculous second-half turnaround, salvaging a game in this series on Thursday is crucial. Which of these division rivals will come out on top this afternoon?<\/p>\n
The Rays are -112 favorites<\/a> over the Blue Jays, with the over\/under set at 8.5 runs<\/a>. Below, I\u2019ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Thursday\u2019s showdown between Tampa Bay and Toronto on DraftKings Sportsbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rays vs. Blue Jays pick, best bet today<\/p>\n Rays vs. Blue Jays under 8.5 runs (-110)<\/a>: Seymour, for all his struggles, has stellar peripherals. A feeble Toronto lineup could be just what he needs to get back on track. As for Bieber, he\u2019s slowly beginning to round into form following a shaky first few starts. Tampa Bay\u2019s power-starved lineup could struggle against the fly ball specialist. <\/p>\n Rays vs. Blue Jays prediction, preview<\/p>\n Ian Seymour will be taking the ball this afternoon for Tampa Bay. It\u2019s been a mediocre season from the right-hander, one of the more unproven names in this rotation. He\u2019s recorded a 4.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 79 strikeouts (10.5 K\/9) over 67.1 innings. However, it\u2019s fair to say that the 27-year-old has gotten a bit unlucky. Per Savant, Seymour has a solid 3.67 xERA. In addition, he sits within the 76th percentile in xBA (.216), chase rate (33.0%), whiff rate (29.4%) and strikeout rate (27.9%). Unfortunately, a fastball that tops out at just over 91 MPH limits his ceiling. It\u2019s worth noting that the hurler has gotten rocked over 26.0 innings on the road (6.23 ERA).<\/p>\n In theory, this should be a prime bounce back spot for Seymour. The Blue Jays are last in runs per game (3.94) and on-base percentage (.302). The team has struggled to generate any kind of offense, due in part to a lack of power. Kazuma Okamoto and George Springer are the only Toronto batters to hit double-digit home runs this season. Seymour does have a tendency to hand out base on balls (3.5 BB\/9). However, the Jays are averaging an American League-worst 2.72 walks per game. <\/p>\n Seymour\u2019s favorite pitch is the changeup, which he\u2019s thrown 31% of the time this season. Against that offering, Toronto batters are slashing .215\/.257\/.354.<\/p>\n On the other side, it\u2019ll be Shane Bieber making his sixth start of the season. Since coming off of the injured list last month, the right-hander hasn\u2019t looked like himself. He\u2019s currently on the hook for a 5.70 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 19 strikeouts (7.2 K\/9). However, the former Cy Young winner comes into Thursday\u2019s contest with a bit of momentum. He\u2019s allowed just two total runs over his previous 11.2 innings of work. Throughout his nine-year career, Bieber\u2019s kryptonite has been giving up hard contact. The Rays aren\u2019t equipped to take advantage of this weakness. Tampa Bay ranks last in baseball with a 5.7% barrel rate and 34.7% hard-hit rate.<\/p>\n The Rays are a dangerous, albeit top-heavy, group at the plate. Despite minuscule power numbers, the team is 13th in runs scored (458). That\u2019s due in large part to baseball\u2019s second-best batting average (.261) and fifth-best on-base percentage (.334). However, as previously mentioned, those skills don\u2019t line up with Bieber\u2019s weaknesses on the mound. The two-time All-Star has posted a 3.09 ERA over his previous five meetings with Tampa Bay. The visitors have a trio of standout bats in Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda. However, outside of those three, there isn\u2019t much to write home about. Only two other Tampa Bay hitters with 100+ plate appearances this season has a wRC+ greater than 100.<\/p>\n