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The Toronto Blue Jays will take on the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. It's time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Blue Jays-Angels prediction and pick.
This series has the potential to be one of the most exciting matchups of the season. The Blue Jays are currently 24-20 and second in the AL East, largely thanks to an explosive lineup that has kept them in games. The Angels have been similarly successful, earning a 27-19 and second place in the AL West. Both of these teams have high-octane offenses, and both have plenty at stake in a series against another playoff-caliber squad. This should be an entertaining matchup, so let's cut to the chase and get into the pick.
Here are the Blue Jays-Angels MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB odds: Blue Jays-Angels Odds
Toronto Blue Jays: -1.5 (+128)
Los Angeles Angels: +1.5 (-154)
Over: 8 (-102)
Under: 8 (-120)
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Why The Blue Jays Could Cover the Spread
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While Toronto has relied on the offense to win games this season, that likely won't be necessary here. That's because the Blue Jays will have starter Alek Manoah on the mound. Manoah has been elite this season, posting a 1.62 ERA and a .88 WHIP. Both numbers are among the best in the MLB, and they should have Manoah up for early Cy Young Award consideration. Those numbers become even more impressive when you consider the competition Manoah has faced. He's pitched a total of 12 innings against the New York Yankees, and he only allowed a single run over that time. He also pitched seven shutout innings against the Boston Red Sox. Manoah's track record is fantastic, and it's unlikely he slows down here.
The Blue Jays will face Los Angeles rookie Chase Silseth in this game. Silseth has only made two career starts, and both went pretty well. However, it's important to note that both appearances came against the Oakland Athletics. The Athletics rank in the bottom three in the MLB in nearly every major batting category, so good performances against them aren't exactly hard to come by. This will be Silseth's first start against a quality MLB offense, and there's a good chance it turns into his first bad start of the season.
Why The Angels Could Cover the Spread
Los Angeles's offense can't be discounted in this game. The Angels have been one of the best hitting teams in the MLB this season, as they rank inside the top ten in batting average, OBP, OPS, and slugging percentage. There are four hitters in the lineup that hit .280 or higher, including superstar center fielder Mike Trout. Trout is in the midst of another fantastic season, as shown by his .310 batting average and 12 home runs. This Angels lineup should be tough to deal with, even for an elite pitcher like Manoah.
The Angels are lucky that this game is being played on their home turf. Manoah has been slightly worse when he pitches on the road, as he earns a higher ERA and allows a higher batting average to his opponents. The Angels' offense earns higher offensive statistics across the board when they play in Angel Stadium, something that should help against an elite pitcher. Toronto's offense has a similar home and away splits to Los Angeles, something that is shown by their lower offensive statistics on the road this year.
Final Blue Jays-Angels Prediction & Pick
The Blue Jays are the obvious pick here. Manoah should pitch well, and Silseth is essentially an unknown. Lock in Toronto and don't look back.
Final Blue Jays-Angels Prediction & Pick: Toronto Blue Jays: -1.5 (+128)
