The Blue Jays look to bounce back after another crushing loss, with Kevin Gausman leading Toronto against Texas.
In a season of injuries and frustrations, two steps forward then four back again, for the Toronto Blue Jays, and bettors, the series with the Houston Astros that just passed took the cake.
Yesterday, it was another one that slipped away, on a Jeff Hoffman pickoff attempt at third base in the eighth inning that went awry, the ball skidding into foul territory and Joey Loperfido jogging in with the go-ahead run in a 1-1 game.
The Jays would lose 3-1, a day after dropping a 9-7 loss to the Astros, off a Loperfido 11th inning three-run homerun.
The Jays script is getting monotonous. They need power out of their $500 million man, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and some pop out of George Springer in the leadoff spot would be nice (.223, 8 HR, 21 RBIs).
Jays GM Ross Atkins has talked about the Blue Jays being buyers at the trade deadline, targeting starting pitching, which makes sense, because who knows what they have in Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber. Cody Ponce is gone for the season, Kevin Gausman has regressed a bit, and their bullpen is on track for the league-lead in usage. That’s just not sustainable.
The good news is the Jays still hold down the last wildcard spot.
BEST BETS
Texas Rangers (38-42, 19-24 away) at Toronto Blue Jays (39-41, 22-20 home), tonight, 7:07 p.m. EST, Rogers Centre, Toronto. In MLB betting at Betway, the Blue Jays are betting favorites at -150, while the Rangers are +125. Runline is Toronto -1.5 (+125), Rangers +1.5 (-165). Total is 7.5 (Over is -120, Under is +100).
Kevin Gausman (4-5, 4.04 ERA) goes up against MacKenzie Gore (4-6, 4.07 ERA).
Blue Jays Moneyline
Toronto has the edge at home and Gausman has the better command numbers in the head-to-head. A close matchup between two middling teams.
Under 7.5
The total is being bet down in a lot of spots, which makes sense since neither offence is lights out. Gausman will be looking for a strong outing at home, with a stench from a 16-2 loss in Chicago against the Cubs last weekend, where he gave up seven runs in two innings, still in the air.
That start was a complete anomaly, not like Gausman at all. Despite the 4.04 ERA, he has still posted a solid 1.13 WHIP.
Gore is a strikeout pitcher – tied for 21st in MLB with 92.
Gausman Over 5.5 Strikeouts
Texas can be vulnerable to the swing and miss (673, 17th in MLB), and again, looking to get back on the rails, at home with the roof off, beautiful night, I am expecting a good showing from the Jays’ pitcher.
Gausman has 89 strikeouts on the season – good for 24th in MLB.
Look at Rangers slugger Joc Pederson to hit Over 0.5 Home Runs tonight (+400), one of my favourite player props on the board. I also like Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho, who has enjoyed success against Texas, including home runs in each of the Rangers’ last two visits to Rogers Centre. Betway has Varsho Over 0.5 Home Runs at +550.
