Shane McClanahan: Ray’s Update for MLB Betting Odds

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Tampa Bay Rays ace lefty Shane McClanahan is the +350 second-favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award on the MLB odds and has excellent career numbers against Wednesday’s opponent, the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. He’s a big favorite on the MLB betting odds for the matchup.

Rays Cy Young Contender McClanahan On Mound vs. Blue Jays | 2023 MLB Expert Analysis

How to Bet Toronto at Tampa Bay MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 6:40 PM ET
Where: Tropicana Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): Yusei Kikuchi/Shane McClanahan
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Rays -180, Blue Jays +160 (total 8)

Why Bet on Toronto?

Ahead of Tuesday’s game, the Jays selected the contract of infielder Ernie Clement from Triple-A Buffalo. The versatile 27-year-old had been hitting .328/.409/.512 with five homers, 25 RBI and six stolen bases in 35 games with Buffalo. Clement appeared in 70 Major League games between the Cleveland Guardians and Oakland Athletics last season, batting .184 with four doubles and six RBI. He’ll add more on the offensive side of the ball than infielder Otto Lopez, who was optioned back to Triple-A on Tuesday.

Reliever Zach Pop threw a bullpen session on Monday. Pop threw a two-inning simulated session and will continue to be re-evaluated this week before the Blue Jays decide on his next step. He’s been on the shelf since early May due to a right hamstring strain and is still a few weeks away. Fellow reliever Adam Cimber was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday. A right rhomboid strain has held Cimber out since the end of April. Cimber has allowed five earned runs through 10 innings this season with three of them coming in his last two appearances.

The Blue Jays are one of two AL teams who have scored in every game this season (also the Angels). They have gone 67 straight games without being shut out, the 2nd-longest active streak in MLB. Defensively, Toronto fielders have recorded a total of 33 Defensive Runs Saved to lead all MLB teams. The group is led by an MLB-high 14 runs saved in center field – 10 from Kevin Kiermaier and four from Daulton Varsho.

Star Vladimir Guerrero hits .258 career vs. Tampa Bay 16 doubles, two triples, 11 homers, and 36 RBIs. Bichette hits .262 with 13 doubles, seven home runs, and 27 RBI in his career vs. the Rays.

It’s lefty Yusei Kikuchi on the mound Wednesday. Kikuchi (5-1) took the loss Friday as the Blue Jays fell 6-2 to the Orioles, giving up three runs on three hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out three. All three runs came on a Ryan Mountcastle long ball in the third inning, but Kikuchi was somewhat lucky to escape without more damage. The 31-year-old has been taken deep six times in his last four starts, and on the season his 4.08 ERA hides an ominous 5.64 FIP while coming with a 1.32 WHIP and 43:12 K:BB through 46.1 innings.

Kikuchi tossed 6.0 frames of one-run ball vs. Rays on April 15 at Rogers Centre (4H, BB, 9K). In six career games vs. the Rays, he’s 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA (6 ER/30.0 IP), a 1.00 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts.

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Why Bet on Tampa Bay?

Rays slugger Yandy Diaz didn’t start Tuesday but should be back in there Wednesday. He has an 19-game on-base streak since April 27, , slashing .354/.468/.677 (23-for-65) with 11 extra-base hits, 12 RBI, 12 walks and only 12 strikeouts in that stretch. It marks the second-longest streak of his career behind a 22-game run from 7/24-8/16, 2020. Diaz has reached base safely in 29 of his last 30 games overall, going .352/.453/.620 (38-for-108) at the plate during that span. He leads all qualified major leaguers during that stretch (since 4/15) in batting average, OPS (1.073) and OBP while ranking third in SLG (.620).

Second baseman Brandon Lowe was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup due to a stiff neck and is day-to-day. When batting second in the order this season (11G), he is hitting .300 (12-for-40) with five home runs and 10 RBIs. When batting in any other spot of the lineup, he is hitting.162 (17-for-105) with three home runs and 14 RBIs (31G).

The Rays lead the majors in stolen bases (28) and stolen base attempts (35) during the month of May. Wander Franco leads the club with eight steals this month, third most in MLB during May, followed by Josh Lowe, Luke Raley and Taylor Walls (4SB each). The Rays have been successful on 14 of their last 16 stolen base attempts dating back to May 14. Tampa Bay has five players with 5+ stolen bases, tied with Cleveland for second most in the majors behind Pittsburgh (6).

It’s lefty ace Shane McClanahan (7-0) on the mound here. McClanahan did not factor into the decision Friday, tossing seven scoreless innings in which he allowed six hits and one walk during a 1-0 win over the Brewers. He struck out seven. It was third scoreless outing of the year and he completed a season-high seven innings Friday. McClanahan has a 2.05 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 68:25 K:BB across 10 appearances (57 innings).

In seven career starts against Toronto, McClanahan is 3-2 with a 2.65 ERA (37.1IP, 11ER) and 37 strikeouts against 13 walks while holding opponents to a .199 batting average (27-for-136). In his lone start opposite Toronto this season on April 16, he earned the win (6IP, 4H, 1ER, 2BB, 6SO).

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