Although the Toronto Blue Jays are not considered a major market team, the baseball betting odds suggest that this perception is inaccurate. To illustrate, Toronto has the third-highest payroll in Major League Baseball. So far, the Blue Jays are not playing like a team with an expensive roster. However, the Blue Jays are playing their best baseball of the season. Also picking up the pace are the Tampa Bay Rays. But Tampa is doing it, as always, with a shoestring budget. The Blue Jays and Rays are trying to catch the New York Yankees in the AL East.
Blue Jays Take Flight
At the onset of the week, the Toronto Blue Jays won eight of their most recent ten online betting matchups. Toronto is 4.5 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East Division race. Toronto is solidly in the black this season has been a strong run line team.
Namely, George Springer has been a key asset with the MLB odds. Springer has produced 34 runs, 14 doubles, 10 home runs, and 28 runs batted in. His OPS is .852. Meanwhile, Bo Bichette has 28 runs, 17 doubles, eight home runs, and 37 runs batted in. His OPS is .743. Vladimir Guerrero brings 40 runs, 11 doubles, eight home runs, and 29 runs batted in. His OPS is .797. Also, Jeff Hoffman has 15 saves and 18 opportunities, but with a 5.65 earned run average.
Overall, Toronto has MLB metrics of 15th for run production, 20 home runs, 20th for earned run average, and 21st for quality starts. Toronto’s team strength is 2nd for bullpen ERA.
Rays of Hope From Tampa Bay
Overall, the Tampa Bay Rays rank 27th for payroll. But that is not stopping them from being perennial playoff contenders. Tampa Bay has a strong case as the best-run team in Major League Baseball. Certainly, the Rays get the most out of the least. Tampa Bay got the cash in seven of their most recent ten games. Although the Rays have a nice moneyline profit this season, they are in the red with the run line. Tampa Bay is showing its best value on the road with a strong profit.
Late on, Tampa Bay has gotten the money in seven of their most recent ten games. The Rays went under the total in five of their last seven games. Of great concern is that Tampa Bay’s bullpen ranks 26th for earned run average. The Rays have blown seven saves this season, which could be a body blow to their playoff hopes. IN sum, Tampa Bay ranks 12th for run production, 12th for home runs, and first for quality starts. Additionally, the Rays rank 6th in the fewest errors committed and first in stolen bases.
Namely, Junior Caminero is the best bat in the Tampa Bay lineup. Caminero has contributed 36 runs, 15 doubles, 15 home runs, and 40 runs batted in. His OPS is .809. Meanwhile, Brandon Lowe has 35 runs, eight doubles, 13 home runs, and 35 runs batted in. Lowe has a .741 OPS. As mentioned earlier, the Rays’ bullpen has struggled. But the exception to that is Pete Fairbanks. Fairbanks has 12 saves in 13 chances with a 1.73 earned run average.
Of Note…
First in Major League Baseball for profit margin is the Detroit Tigers. On the other hand, the Baltimore Orioles, Athletics, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox are drowning gamblers in Red ink.