I’ll forgive you for not knowing the backstory, but like most AL East squads, Tampa Bay has been a house of horrors for the Blue Jays in recent years. Maybe recent decades, honestly. In fact, Toronto has not even won a season series with the Rays since 2017 and, despite taking the first two games of this current four-game set, the Jays are just 3-5 against Tampa in 2025.
That’s a hard-fought three wins, too. Toronto came out of George M. Steinbrenner Field with a 6-5 victory on Tuesday, but it wasn’t without it quirks and controversy, as Brandon Lowe hit a three-run home run that had, well, some “assistance” getting over the fence from a fan. House of horrors. Truly.
Can the Jays win their seventh in a row on Wednesday and inch closer to locking up the AL East crown? Let’s preview this divisional matchup with the help of some of those odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Blue Jays vs. Rays prediction, preview
Kevin Gausman is on the heels of arguably the best start of his career. Taking the mound last Thursday against the Astros, Gausman tossed a complete game shutout on only 100 pitches, holding Houston to just two hits in the process. It’s been an up-and-down campaign for the 34-year-old, but Gausman seems to be hitting his stride at exactly the right time. Dating back to a dominant outing on August 6 in his home state of Colorado, Gausman has registered a sterling 2.02 ERA with a 2.90 FIP across his last 49.0 innings. Most encouragingly, it’s a span of time where Gausman’s seen his strikeout rate bump back up to 24.2% and his K/BB ratio sit at 5.50. Translation: The famous fastball/splitter combination is working once again.
The Jays will need Gausman to be their ace on Wednesday. Not because the club is desperate for a win, but because the team’s bullpen is toast. Toronto is in the midst of 13 games in 13 days and its used at least five relievers each of the past two nights. Thankfully, Gausman’s recorded at least 18 outs in nine of his last 10 appearances. He shouldn’t have too much trouble with a Rays lineup that has hit only .239 with a 93 wRC+ since the All-Star break; however, there are some bats on Tampa’s roster that have seen Gausman well over the years. Yandy Diaz sports a 1.345 OPS in 10 career at-bats, while Josh Lowe is 3-for-4 with a home run in a limited sample.
Ian Seymour is this contest’s other starter, and he could not be more different than Kevin Gausman. The rookie left-hander will be making just his fourth-career start on Wednesday, though the early results have been eye-opening. In 42.2 innings with the Rays in 2025 — primarily as a reliever — Seymour has managed a 29.2% strikeout rate and a 2.75 FIP. In is last four appearances, all of which were at least four innings, Seymour surrendered one run or fewer three times. That said, the Jays rank first in MLB in batting average (.270) and third in wRC+ (114) off LHPs. Seymour has yet to see a lineup this potent as a starting pitcher.
Blue Jays vs. Rays pick, best bet
Best Bet: Under 8 (-135)
Both Gausman and Seymour are pitching well and the Jays remain without the injured Bo Bichette (knee).
Strong Lean: Kevin Gausman Over 18.5 Outs Recorded (+133)
Gausman is in a groove at the moment and the Jays’ tired bullpen will necessitate him working deep tonight.
