Free MLB Picks - Rays at Blue Jays MLB Odds: Tamp Bay is currently in third place in the American League East standings only five games in back of the leading Boston Red Sox but only lead fourth place Toronto by a single game as the two clubs begin a three game series at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Rays can put some distance between it and the Blue Jays if they win the series,however; Toronto can edge closer to the top of the standings with a series win.

BetUS.com oddsmakers gives the series edge to Toronto having installed the Rays as -145 moneyline favorites to win the best-of-three set.

Tampa Bay will be hard pressed to win Monday's game-one as it must face top 2009 Cy Young candidate Roy Halliday. Righthander Halladay has a 2.53 ERA to go along with a 10-1 record this season. The Rays will counter with Jeff Niemann. The Tampa Bay righthander is 6-4 this season with a 4.23 ERA.

BetUS.com oddsmakers currently have the Blue Jays listed as 160-moneyline favorites in today's game versus the Rays, while the game's total is 8-runs. Rays backers are getting +140 moneyline odds.

A groin strain has kept Halladay out of the rotation for two weeks but he returns for Monday's game hoping to find his groove previous to the injury. Over his last 10 games, Halladay has gone 7-0 with a 2.07 ERA, 62 strikeouts and nine walks.

Niemann struggled with his control June 21 against the Mets when he walked four and left the game with the Rays trailing 2-0. The Rays came back to take a 4-2 lead to get Niemann off the hook. Niemann uses his 6-foot-9 height to create a downward angle on his pitches that can be extremely difficult for hitters to hit. When Niemann is throwing his breaking pitches for strikes, he usually finds success. Niemann has not faced the Blue Jays.

The Rays defeated Florida 5-2 as a -170 favorite on Sunday. The seven runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (9.5). David Price allowed only one run on two hits in 6 1-3 innings for Tampa Bay and B.J. Upton hit a solo home run in the win.

The Blue Jays lost to Philadelphia 5-4 as a -140 favorite on Sunday. The nine runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (9.5). Aaron Hill hit a pair of solo home runs or Toronto and Jose Bautista delivered a two-run shot in the loss.

Free MLB Pick: If Halladay is back to his usual self, it will make trouble for the Tampa Bay lineup. We at Online Sports Handicapping like Toronto at home with Halladay on the mound. Take Toronto on the moneyline at -160.