MLB: Blue Jays with Chance to Take Top Spot in the AL East

It has been an incredible regular season in the MLB so far and with the playoffs coming up fast, teams are vying for better position before moving into the off-season. The Blue Jays have an excellent chance to take over first place in the AL East with a win over the Tampa Bay Rays and send the Baltimore Orioles into second. The Jays and the Orioles must be weary of the Red Sox, who are catching up fast and eyeing top spot in the division.

Tonight will be the third game of the best-of-three series between the Jays and the Rays. Despite a great all around season, the Rays have been like an Achilles heal for the Blue Jays winning four of the five games they have played already this year. The Rays have won decisively in virtually all of the games with the Jays this year with scores of 13-2, 12-2 and last night a 9-2 victory at Rogers Centre in Toronto. 

Jays Need to Bounce Back

To take over first place the Jays need a win tonight. The Orioles lost their last game to the Oakland A's so they are still tied for first in the division. Last night as 43,134 fans packed into Rogers Centre, Toronto could not get things going defensively behind starter Marco Estrada (7-5) and the relievers didn't offer any help in the losing effort. The loss couldn't have come at a worse time, especially against a team that is 20 games under .500. Estrada couldn't find his groove and was pulled in the fifth inning for Danny Barnes.

In the sixth inning, the Jays were down 5-2, but it looked like they were ready to mount a rally as the bases were loaded and Troy Tulowitzki came up to the plate with no outs. Tulo, one of last season's heroes popped out, followed by Michael Saunders whom struck out, and the inning ended after Justin Smoak popped out in foul territory.

MLB Online Betting

With first place on the line, the Jays will be set on winning tonight's game and punters have the chance to win lucrative cash. bet365 Sports has last year's World Series runners-up as the outright favorites at 1.50, while the Rays are not far behind at 2.70.