Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle +109 BET365 +105 Sportsinteraction +105   888Sport +105

Toronto +109 over Tampa Bay

6:50 PM EST. Chris Bassitt (RHP - TOR) is not the story here today, but we’ll note that he hit all the high notes in his final spring training start, where his velocity was up and in mid-season form after being down a notch or two at the beginning of spring training. Bassitt is never going to be sexy or much more than a pitcher that hovers around a strike and inning clip, but when you send him out, you know that he’s going to do the work, win, lose, or draw. Bassitt had a fine spring, where he pitched 23 innings across five starts, posting a tidy 22 Ks and 4 BBs across those IP. Count Bassitt among those starters that are worthy of consideration as a pooch, but one to be avoided as the betting favorite. Today, he and the Jays are barking.

We discussed the plague that follows the Rays in the aftermath of the Wander Franco situation, which is a story that is shockingly getting very traction considering one of the best young players in the sports just pissed away his whole career for a relationship with an underage girl, but perhaps that’s more of a reflection of where baseball currently sits in the sports consumption pecking order. That said, we see no reason not to come right back here today and fade the Rays, who are not only without their former franchise player but also another big stick in Josh Lowe, who is just dealing with a Grade 1 right oblique strain, although he has not resumed baseball activities and was placed on the 10-day IL. Lowe is looking at a return in late April or early May, which leaves two huge holes in the middle of the Rays lineup.

The Rays will roll out Aaron Civale (RHP - TB) this afternoon, and while he’s a capable starter, he is also nothing to write home about. Civale posted the best ERA of his career since his rookie year in 2019 at 3.46, but it was supported by a higher xERA of 4.10. Civale has never been anything better than average at best, and there is no reason to not expect the same here. As the chalk against a lineup as potent as the Blue Jays, Civale is fade material.

Sherwood

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