The Tampa Bay Rays look like a solid home favorite over Toronto Blue Jays Thursday night, and I expect the home team to win by at least a couple of runs.

Blue Jays righty Trent Thornton (4-9, 5.34 ERA) was tagged with four runs (three earned) over five innings of a 7-4 loss to Houston last time out. Thornton is 0-1 with an 11.12 ERA in three starts against the Rays who counter with Austin Pruitt.

While Pruitt (2-0, 4.78 ERA) has made just one start this season, he has also made 10 relief appearances. Pruitt tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 4-0 win over the Cleveland Indians last Friday, and he is 2-0 with a 4.29 ERA in eight career appearances (one start) against the Blue Jays.

Every game matters for the Rays who enters Thursday as the owner of the top wild card in the American League while Toronto is just playing out the season. Let's go with the motivated home side.

8* play on Tampa Bay Rays.