Rays at Blue Jays Odds, Line, Total, Favorite and Predictions – Free MLB Picks 4-22-11

Free MLB Picks and Odds: Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays Favorite, Moneyline, Total and Predictions 4/22/11: After a sluggish start to their campaign, the Tampa Bay Rays have pulled within 2.5 games of the American East leading Yankees with some strong fundamental baseball. It was almost as this club was trying to hard at the beginning of the season and the results were just not coming. Joe Madden reiterated the need for sound, fundamental play and the Rays have been playing some fairly consistent baseball as of late. Johnny Damon has been a blessing to this club and he is providing not only clutch hitting and defensive fortitude, but he is a veteran voice in a young and inexperienced locker-room. The loss of Manny Ramirez surely dealt a blow to the confidence of the young Rays’, but players like Damon are so invaluable to lean upon in times of uncertainty. Evan Longoria is still nursing a strained oblique but the rehab is reported as being successful and there are rumblings that he is only a couple weeks off from returning. His return is much anticipated, as the all-star first basemen is the ingredient the Rays are missing to string together consecutive wins.

The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off of a split two game series with the New York Yankees, another series that highlighted their trait of inconsistent play. They faced a pitcher who had been out of the game for two years in Bartolo Colon but they could not keep up with his fastball and they were constantly dummied by the change up. Defensively their shifts were off which resulted in, otherwise fly balls, scoring doubles. Case in point for this club, the Jays have proved that they can play when they want to. The opening of the series with the Yanks brought them to their feet due to the fact that they were facing ex-Jay AJ Burnett, but it seemed as though that win drained them for the series finale. Brett Cecil who took the mound for the Jays on Wednesday night was optioned down to AAA Las Vegas too rekindle his career. The lefty, who many in Jays’ land felt that this year could provide for a leap in his play, has had velocity and command issues in four starts thus far. Brendan Morrow has returned from his rehab stint and will likely see action in the weekend series with the Rays. The 6’6” standout had an excellent season last year and was by far the best pitcher in the Jays rotation. He has a commanding fastball and he throws strikes, he also fools opposing hitters with his deceptive delivery to the plate. He will be a welcome sign to Toronto who has a questionable, at best, starting rotation. J.J. Reyes will take to the mound tonight for the Jays’, another pitcher who has yet to find a consistent stride. Reyes has all the intangibles to be a solid starting pitcher but he can not find a way to start off games. He has issues with developing early defecits, a major knock on an otherwise solid performer.

Tonight we will recommend a play on the Jays(Check the latest MLB Odds at SBG Global Sportsbook) at home in the Rogers Centre. Toronto has one the first game of 5 of the 6 series’ that have partaken in already this series. They like to get the ball rolling with a win in the opening tilt and they pull all the strings in order to get that W. Once a team that relied on consistent pitching and timely hitting, Toronto is now coming to be known for their aggressive special teams and defensive prowess. John Farell has his club stealing the bases on a record pace and he is not afraid to sacrifice outs to move players into scoring position. The Rays have had issues to this point with stolen bases. The throw from home to second is just not there yet, which has resulted in a bottom 10 rank in errors committed. J.J. Reyes will take to the mound tonight for the Jays and he will need to provide a solid appearance in the wake of the parade of pitchers being sent back to Las Vegas. He has shown that he has the stuff needed at the big league level but he has to prove that he can execute early in games. We will consider the Jays winning another opening game to kick off the weekend slate between their nemesis in the Rays. Cheers!

Free Pick: Toronto Blue Jays +100(moneyline)
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