Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/20/2026

Game Time: 1:10 pm ET, Thursday, August 20, 2026

Venue:  Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Blue Jays +145, Rays -175; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Blue Jays +145, Rays -175; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Blue Jays +145, Rays -175; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Toronto Blue Jays:  62-65 (4th place, AL East)

Tampa Bay Rays:  75-50 (1st place, AL East)

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Toronto Blue Jays:  7-3 last 10

Tampa Bay Rays:  6-4 last 10

The Blue Jays are entering this series off a loss and won their 3-game series against the New York Yankees 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 62-65 record overall and have a road record of 29-32. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Rays on Thursday with the 2nd game still to be played on Wednesday. The Blue Jays won the series opener on Tuesday. Their offense ranks 30th in the MLB with a .682 OPS. Max Scherzer is their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Shane Bieber is making his start in this game on Thursday. He is 4-2 with a 4.99 ERA this season. His team won 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 1 ER, 1 HR, and 1 BB with 5 SO on 4 hits through 6 IP against the New York Yankees.

The Rays are entering this series off a win and lost their 4-game series against the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 75-50 record overall and have a home record of 42-22. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the Blue Jays on Thursday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Wednesday. The Rays lost the 1st game of this series on Tuesday. Their offense ranks 6th in the MLB with a .740 OPS. Drew Rasmussen is their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Ian Seymour is making his start in this game on Thursday. He is 9-3 with a 4.11 ERA this season. His team won 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 3 earned runs, 2 homers, and 1 walk with 9 strikeouts on 6 hits through 6 innings pitched against the Baltimore Orioles.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays have looked great in their games this season with their 75-50 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL East with one of the best records in MLB. They have looked great in their own ballpark too with their 42-22 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays haven't looked great in their games this season with their 62-65 record overall which has them right at the bottom of the AL East. They haven't been a great road team either with their 29-32 road record this year. The Blue Jays are 7-3 in their last 10 games and they have been rolling lately, playing their way back into the Wild Card race in the AL, but the Rays have also been hot lately themselves. The Rays are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have been one of the best home teams in the league this year. The Rays are going with Seymour in this one and he hasn't looked bad this season either. He is 9-3 with a 4.11 ERA and the team has been having lots of success with him. He did give up 3 earned runs in his last start, but the team has won 3 of their last 4 games with him starting and the Rays also have one of the best bullpens to lean on here. The Blue Jays have had pitching troubles all year and they aren't going to get any better in this one. They are going with Bieber here and he hasn't looked great this year. He is 4-2 with a 4.99 ERA and he has been giving up quite a few runs this season. He is coming off a good start in which he gave up 1 earned run, but that hasn't been a common theme for him this year. The Rays have been rolling in their home games all season and even with a shaky start from Seymour, they have the better bullpen to lean on and the stronger offense too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game. 

Blue Jays Rays Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Thursday, August 20, 2026 (1:10 pm ET start time) is Rays 5 Blue Jays 3.

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Toronto Blue Jays: 143-145 (-13.9 units) on the moneyline vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .330 or worse. 98-101 (-19.5 units) on the moneyline vs. an AL team with a slugging percentage .410 or worse on the season. 72-87 (-17 units) on the moneyline vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better. 12-6 UNDER on the road vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better.

Tampa Bay Rays: 120-89 (+9.9 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a losing record. 95-75 (+6.7 units) on the moneyline vs. AL teams scoring 4.4 or less runs/game on the season. 166-154 (+11.1 units) on the moneyline vs. good fielding teams - averaging 0.6 errors/game or less. 30-17 UNDER when the total is 8 to 8.5.

Toronto Blue Jays:  V. Guerrero Jr. (1B) Seven Day IL - Head. J. Bloss (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Taillon (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. L. Urias (2B) Ten Day IL - Quadriceps. T. Yesavage (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Knee. P. Corbin (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. S. Arrighetti (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Foot. A. Barger (RF) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Clase (LF) Ten Day IL - Foot. J. Mantiply (RP) Sixty Day IL - Knee. J. Berrios (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Ponce (SP) Sixty Day IL - Knee. A. Santander (RF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. Y. Garcia (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. B. Francis (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Tampa Bay Rays:  V. Mesa Jr. (RF) Day To Day - Hamstring. G. Jax (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. B. Williamson (2B) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. J. Fraley (RF) Sixty Day IL - Groin. C. Sulser (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Back. J. Heasley (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. G. Lux (LF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. R. Pepiot (SP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. E. Uceta (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. M. Rodriguez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“It was a really good team approach today, I thought, overall. You get three home runs and you get some timely hits -- that's really, really important, especially against a good pitching team.” - John Schneider after his team’s win against the Rays in their game on Tuesday.

“I think Nick was off a tick and just couldn't quite right himself, for whatever reason. He's been so good for us and confident -- very confident -- he'll bounce right back. Just one of those days.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s loss against the Blue Jays in their game on Tuesday. 

Brett Bateman (L) CF

Nathan Lukes (L) RF

Alejandro Kirk (R) C

George Springer (R) DH

Jesús Sánchez (L) LF

Kazuma Okamoto (R) 1B

Andrés Giménez (L) SS

Ernie Clement (R) 2B

Josh Smith (L) 3B

Chandler Simpson (L) LF

Junior Caminero (R) 3B

Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B

Yandy Díaz (R) DH

Liam Hicks (L) C

Victor Mesa Jr. (L) RF

Cedric Mullins (L) CF

Richie Palacios (L) 2B

Taylor Walls (S) SS

Batting Average:  Eloy Jiménez (.290)

Hits:  Ernie Clement (135)

Home Runs:  Kazuma Okamoto (25)

RBI:  Kazuma Okamoto (72)

Stolen Bases:  Andrés Giménez (17)

Wins:  Dylan Cease (7)

Saves:  Louis Varland (28)

ERA:  Tanner Andrews (0.00)

Batting Average:  Jorge Mateo (.333)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (145)

Home Runs:  Junior Caminero (35)

RBI:  Junior Caminero (79)

Stolen Bases:  Chandler Simpson (35)

Wins:  Nick Martinez (12)

Saves:  Bryan Baker (35)

ERA:  Bryan Baker (1.47)

Managers:

Toronto Blue Jays: John Schneider (5th season)

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (12th season)