Pete Walker #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays talks to Chris Bassitt. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/Getty Images)
Here is some info on where to watch and what to expect for the primetime games on Friday, May 17.
Apple TV has the right to Friday’s primetime games all season long.
Tampa Bay Rays (23-22) @ Toronto Blue Jays (19-23), 7:07 EST, Apple TV
Odds: Blue Jays -165 (ESPN Bet)
Probable Starters: Tyler Alexander 1-2 5.45 ERA vs Chris Bassitt 3-5 5.06 ERA
Preview: Tyler Alexander has a rough season for the Tampa Bay Rays with an ERA of 5.45 in 39.2 innings. He got roughed up against the Yankees in his last start and gave up six earned runs in seven innings in a 10-6 loss on May 12. The lefty Alexander spent his first five seasons with the Detroit Tigers, and this is his first season with the Rays.
The Rays are in third place in the American League East and are one game over .500. They take on the Toronto Blue Jays in an AL East showdown at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays have underachieved with a 19-23 record and are in last place in the AL East. The Rays have picked it up this month going 8-4 and they just took two out of three against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
The Jays will send Bassit to the mound tonight. He has an ERA of 5.06 in 42.2 innings this season. The righty Bassitt will try to get back on track and pitch to the back of his baseball card. His career ERA is 3.55 in 11 seasons. Bassitt got the win in his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 8. He pitched six innings, with two earned runs and six strikeouts.
The Blue Jays are 4-8 this month and are 2-3 in their last five games. They lost two out of three to the Minnesota Twins and split a two-game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Both teams are trying to find their footing and compete in a difficult AL East.
Prediction: The Toronto Blue Jays will get it done tonight, and Chris Bassitt will deliver a quality start. Their bats will be able to get to Rays starter Tyler Alexander.
(OR depending on the local market)
Minnesota Twins (24-19) @ Cleveland Guardians (27-17), 7:10 EST, Apple TV
Odds: Guardians -120 (ESPN Bet)
Probable Starters: Simeon Woods Richardson 1-0 3.24 ERA vs Triston McKenzie 2-3 3.54 ERA
Preview: Simeon Woods Richardson is the Minnesota Twins 23rd ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline. The righty was traded to the Minnesota Twins from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Jose Berrios trade at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline. He has made five starts this season and has a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings. He gave up two runs or less in his first four starts but struggled in his last start against the Blue Jays. He allowed five runs in 4.1 innings in a 10-8 loss on May 11.
The wins had an MLB-high 12-game winning streak that started in late April and ended in early May. The Twins have cooled down and just got swept by the New York Yankees at Target Field. The Twins are 24-19 and currently find themselves in third place in the American League Central. They are 2.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for first place. The Twins will travel to Cleveland to play the Guardians at Progressive Field.
The Guardians will send Triston McKenzie to the mound tonight. He has an ERA of 3.54 in 40.2 innings. The righty was the rough luck loser against the White Sox, giving up just one run in 6.2 innings in a 3-1 loss on May 11. Triston McKenzie has a nice stretch, giving up two runs or less in his last five starts.
The Guardians are 8-7 in May and 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Guardians took two out of three against the Rangers but got shutout 4-0 on May 15 at Globe Life Park.
First place in the AL Central could be on the line in this series, but the Kansas City Royals are in second place and are only 1.5 games behind first place.
Prediction: Tristan McKenzie keeps rolling, and the Guardians win a low-scoring game. Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor will have a positive impact on the Guardian’s offense.
