Blue Jays vs Rays Picks and Prediction – 5/23/2025

Steinbrenner Field will be the setting for a Friday night AL East Division matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Blue Jays (25-24) are riding a three-game winning streak and trail first place New York by five games. On Thursday, Nathan Lukes delivered a walk-off single in the 11th inning to lift Toronto to a 7-6 home victory versus San Diego.

Twenty-nine year old southpaw Eric Lauer (2.25 ERA) will make his second start of the year for the Blue Jays. In his first start, Lauer recorded nine outs and struck out five batters during a 2-1 home victory versus Detroit. 

The Tampa Bay Rays are five games below .500 in their temporary home and are seven games off the pace in the division race. On Wednesday, DH Yandy Diaz smashed a 435-foot three-run blast to power Tampa Bay to an 8-4 home victory versus Houston. Josh Lowe, Brandon Lowe, and Curtis Mead also left the yard for the Rays, who improved to 23-26 overall. 

Tampa Bay skipper Kevin Cash will turn to twenty-nine year old righty Drew Rasmussen (2-4 2.93 ERA) on Friday. Last time out, Rasmussen fired six shutout frames and fanned five batters during a 4-0 road victory against Miami. 

Tampa Bay SS Taylor Walls was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup with groin soreness and is listed as day-to-day. Through 49 games, Toronto ranks 15th in OPS and 21st in runs scored. For the season, Tampa Bay ranks 24th in OPS and 23rd in runs scored. Take the over. Final Score Prediction, Tampa Bay Rays win 7-4.