The Toronto Blue Jays, winners of three in a row, take on the Angels in Anaheim this afternoon, with Eric Lauer on the mound.
What do we do with the Toronto Blue Jays, from a betting perspective, not even a month into the season?
After weeks of injury headlines, hitters scuffling, debates about Jeff Hoffman’s ability as a closer (leave him alone to work out the kinks, in my opinion), they’re on a little run.
George Springer, out with a fractured toe, told Sportsnet the hitters are grinding through, and figuring it out. They are certainly hitting the ball harder, and the results appear to be coming.
Then there was the 12-strikeout performance by Dylan Cease the other night, an absolute stud of a starting pitcher. Those are the type of exclamatory individual performances that can change the trajectory of a season.
Starting pitcher Cody Ponce is gone for the season after knee surgery. Starter Trey Yesavage is reportedly closer to returning after another rehab start. Who knows where starters Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios are with their injury recoveries.
And Anthony Santander – I found myself Googling his return date from shoulder surgery after the watching the hitters collapsing last week. That’s apparently a best-case August-September return for Santander, similar to a late season trade, if that works out.
The Jays have won three straight and are 10-13 on the season, four games behind first place New York Yankees in the AL East.
BEST BETS
Toronto Blue at Los Angeles Angels, 3:07 p.m. EST, Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Angels Moneyline -160
At Betway this morning, the Angels are betting favorites, -160, the Blue Jays +130 on the Moneyline. Against the spread: Angels -1.5 (+125) and the Jays +1.5 (-165), with the Over/Under 8.5 (O +105, U -125).
The Blue Jays are looking to sweep the series, before heading back home to host the Cleveland Guardians.
Eric Lauer (1-3, 7.13 ERA) is on the mound for the Blue Jays, coming off comments he made about not liking being part of an opener, or bullpen day, scenario, which he was the last game he pitched in. Those comments ruffled some feathers with team management.
If he wants to be a starter, he’s going to have to earn it, and his record as of today won’t cut it with Yesavage then Bieber and Berrios eventually coming back into the fold.
The Angels start Jose Soriano today (5-0, 0.28, 39 SOs in 32.2 innings), who’s only been the best pitcher in baseball.
A quick scan at Betway Cy Young odds this morning – Tarik Skubal at +185, Bryan Woo at +750, then Soriano at +1100.
Minnesota Twins at New York Mets, 7:10 p.m. EST, Citi Field, Queens, New York
Twins Moneyline +135
At Betway, the Mets are betting favorites, -165, the Twins +135 on the Moneyline. Against the spread: Mets -1.5 (+125) and the Twins +1.5 (-165), with the Over/Under 7.5 (O -120, U +100).
The Mets’ stunning 12-game losing streak is one of top storylines of spring so far, a team that has the worst record in the major leagues, at 7-16. The team is coming off last night’s gut punch blown save by Devin Williams against the Twins – facing five batters, retiring none of them, walking three, giving up two runs.
It’s going to be cold again in New York tonight, in the 50s, and we’re not talking about the attitude among their fanbase. That fanbase is pretty livid right now.
All eyes are on Juan Soto, who returns to the lineup from the injury list. The Mets need the offence – just 22 runs scored over the 12-game losing streak.
The Twins are countering with left-handed prospect Connor Prielipp, who makes his major league debut for the Twins. The Mets are 0-5 against left-handers this season.
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox, 6:45 p.m. EST, Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Ranger Suarez Total Earned Runs Allowed Over 2.5 +120
At Betway, the Yankees are betting favorites, -140, the Red Sox +120 on the Moneyline. Against the spread: Yankees -1.5 (+115) and the Red Sox +1.5 (-150), with the Over/Under 7.5 (O -115, U -105).
The Red Sox have been another disappointment after the first month of the season – last in the AL East, at 9-14.
Boston is starting Ranger Suarez (1-1, 3.38 ERA) against the Yankees, and I was looking at Red Sox ATS, but Boston is 7-16 against the run line this season for far, and face Max Fried today (2-1, 2.97 ERA).
Strong run support will back Fried to the win.
