Blue Jays vs Rays predictions
Looking at the Toronto Blue Jays lineup, it’s hard not to get excited about the potential fireworks. Bo Bichette has been swinging a hot bat lately, and with his knack for racking up hits, I see him coming up big again—count on him to be a spark plug at the top, possibly tacking on an extra-base hit and driving in a run. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. looks primed for one of those games where he clogs the basepaths and threatens to leave the yard, so keep an eye out for an RBI and a couple solid connections. Meanwhile, Alejandro Kirk always brings steady contact to the table; don’t be surprised if he chips in multiple hits as well. On the mound, Eric Lauer should hold his own and keep this one close with around five decent innings and a handful of strikeouts, giving the Jays a fighting chance.
Shifting the focus to the Tampa Bay Rays, their ability to create chaos on the basepaths with speedsters like Jose Caballero could put some real pressure on Toronto’s defense. I’d expect Caballero to swipe another bag and maybe leg out a double. Yandy Diaz, who’s been consistent all year, seems likely to notch a couple of base knocks—including one in a clutch spot to drive in a run. Power guy Brandon Lowe should keep Blue Jays pitchers honest with his strong lefty bat; a solo shot or a sharp double wouldn’t be out of the question. Plus, Drew Rasmussen on the bump for the Rays is always good for a few quick innings, a low run total, and he could very well rack up four or five strikeouts to set the tone early.
So, who has the edge tonight? The Blue Jays have momentum on their side with their recent win streak, and if their top bats keep rolling, they could turn this into a gritty seesaw battle. But with the Rays playing at home, leaning into their aggressive baserunning, and sending Rasmussen out to start, it just feels like Tampa Bay has the slight upper hand in this matchup. Still, it wouldn’t be a shocker if this one went right down to the wire—after all, that’s what makes the MLB so much fun. What do you think? Are we in store for another barn burner between these division rivals?
