The long baseball season produces many ups and downs. After a 15-8 start, the Blue Jays are on a down cycle losing seven of their last nine games, including four in a row. The Blue Jays are struggling mentally, too, following an emotional and frustrating road series against the Yankees.
I don't see things picking up for the Blue Jays as they now have to travel to Tampa to face the Rays.
The Blue Jays opened as road favorites because they are pitching Kevin Gausman. The Rays, though, have a good starting pitcher going, too, in Drew Rasumussen. He's an underrated 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA. Rasmussen has given up just two earned runs in winning his last three starts.
Gausman has a 4.00 lifetime ERA against the Rays in 17 appearances. Rasmussen has a career-mark of 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three appearances versus the Blue Jays.
Free Friday Play
Padres plus $1.40 at Braves
Care to guess the two top hitters in baseball? It's Manny Machado at .383 and Eric Hosmer at .367. The Braves are going to have to deal with both of them.
Atlanta has an excellent pitcher going with lefty Max Fried. But the Padres have a hot Yu Darvish to counter. So at this 'dog price, I'm going to get involved with the Padres.
Darvish can be streaky. Right now he's looking good having won his last three decisions. If you discount his second start against the Giants when he was smacked around for nine runs in 1 2/3 innings, Darvish would have a 1.71 ERA in five starts.
The Padres could catch a break if Ronald Acuna has to miss a second straight game. He's dealing with a groin injury.
A trend to keep in mind is San Diego has won the last seven times following a loss. They also are 4-0 the past four times facing a lefty starter.