MLB Odds: Jays Visit Rays to Close out MLB Season

Despite a significant difference in records, both the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays will miss the playoffs this season. They’ll wrap up their disappointing seasons in a final series against each other beginning this Friday. The AL East rivals will watch the Yankees and Red Sox represent their division in the postseason, and look toward next season to make their own appearances on the October stage.


With a tough season like Toronto has had this year, opportunities are made for young players looking to break into the Big Leagues. The Jays will send one of those young players to the mound to take on the Rays on Friday. 24-year-old lefty, Thomas Pannone, will make his fourth consecutive start for the Jays. In his previous three outings, Pannone has won all three games and has pitched into the seventh inning in each. While the rest of the Jays’ staff has struggled to a 4.85 team ERA, the rookie has impressed with a 3.58 ERA.

The Rays will call upon Ryan Yarbough to counter Pannone. Yarbough has pitched both out of the bullpen as well as started for Tampa this season, and has done admirably, pitching to a 15-6 record and a 3.93 ERA. While he’s struggled of late, Yarbough will have an opportunity to build on those stats further against the offensively-challenged Jays. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET.

MLB Odds: Jays on the Road for Season Finale

The Toronto Blue Jays will head to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays this Friday for the first of a three-game series that will close out their 2018 season. The Jays have struggled to a 71-87 record this year, but with those struggles come opportunities for young prospects to make a case for a roster spot next season.

Unlike the Jays, the Rays (87-70) were in the playoff hunt for the majority of the season. But with a sizeable 7.5-game deficit in the final playoff spot late in the season, Tampa’s time is up. They’ll look to close out their season with a series victory over the Jays.