Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Prediction, Thursday, September 18, 2025
Use Code WWWC It’s an American League East battle between two rivals on Thursday, Sept. 18. Read our Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction along with our other MLB Predictions to beat the sportsbooks! The Blue Jays are leading the AL East race by a few games over the Yankees. They have previously won 10 of their last 14 games before Thursday's matchup. The Rays are closing in on being eliminated from playoff contention as they couldn’t find enough wins, especially at home. The Rays are set to start Shane Baz, while Toronto turns to Chris Bassitt on the mound. The first pitch is set for 1:10 P.M. EST.
Toronto closing in on winning AL East division
Toronto is 89-63 overall this season. They are in first place in the American League East division. The Blue Jays are four games ahead of the Yankees for the top spot. Toronto holds the best record in the American League, too. They have a 39-38 record when playing on the road. They have won six of their last seven games coming into this matchup.
Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Blue Jays in the final game of the series on Thursday. The right-handed pitcher is 11-8 with an ERA of 3.90. He has started 30 games with one relief appearance. His last start saw him throw five innings against the Orioles on Sept. 12. He allowed one run and two hits in a 6-1 win. Toronto is 16-14 when Bassitt has started this season. He has an ERA of 5.42 when pitching on the road and an ERA of 3.51 since the All-Star break.
The Blue Jays are hitting .269 this season, which is the top-ranked batting average in the league. They have scored the fourth most runs, while they rank first in hits. Toronto has hit the 12th most home runs. They have also struck out the second fewest times. They are hitting .263 when playing on the road and .286 since the All-Star break. Toronto is hitting .274 in September and just .208 in nine games versus Tampa Bay.
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Clock ticking for Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes
Tampa Bay is 74-78 overall this season. They are in fourth place in the American League East as they are 15 games back of the Blue Jays. The Rays are also nine games back of a wild-card spot with just two weeks left to go in the regular season. They have a 39-38 record when playing at home. The Rays are 6-3 against the Blue Jays this season. But they have lost nine of their last 12 games.
On Thursday, the Rays are starting Shane Baz. The right-handed pitcher is 9-12 with a 5.15 ERA in 29 starts. His last start saw him throw 2.1 innings against the Cubs on Sept. 12. He allowed five runs and six hits in a 6-4 loss. The Rays are 14-15 when Baz has started. They have lost 11 of his last 13 games, too. Baz has a 6.28 ERA in 15 home starts. He has a 7.42 ERA since the All-Star break, too.
Tampa Bay is hitting .251 this season, which ranks ninth in the league. They have scored the 15th most runs, while they also rank 10th in hits. The Rays have hit the 16th most home runs. They are hitting .261 when they have played at home and just .240 since the All-Star break. In September, Tampa Bay has a .264 batting average and .256 against Toronto in nine games this season.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Pick
Spread Pick for Blue Jays vs Rays
- Toronto Blue Jays -1.5 (5 units)
The form between the two teams is set with the Blue Jays. They have won six of their last seven games. They are also starting Chris Bassitt, who has a 3.51 ERA since the All-Star break. Toronto looks ready to clinch the division and a few more wins will certainly accomplish that feat and they should get another win over their divisional foe. The Rays have lost nine of their last 12 games. They have are also starting Shane Baz and they have lost 11 of his last 13 starts. He has an ERA of 6.28 when pitching at home.
Take the Blue Jays to cover.
Over/Under Pick for Blue Jays vs Rays
- Under 8.5 runs (5 units)
The offense should be one key thing to watch in this game. The Blue Jays are hitting .286 since the All-Star break, while Tampa Bay has a 2.64 batting average this month. Both teams are starting pitchers that can be shaky at times. Shane Baz has a 6.28 ERA at home, while Chris Bassitt has a 5.42 road ERA.
Take the under on Wednesday.
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