Subscribe
Follow Us
The Toronto Blue Jays take on the Los Angeles Angels. Check out our MLB odds series for our Blue Jays Angels prediction and pick.
Yusei Kikuchi gets the ball for the Blue Jays, while Michael Lorenzen gets the start for the Angels.
Yusei Kikuchi has a 3.47 ERA. He was mediocre in April but has been solid in May. The numbers tell a very clear picture. In April, Kikuchi conceded 12 runs in 14 2/3 innings, pitching into the fifth inning only once in four starts. In May, Kikuchi has given up five runs in 21 2/3 innings, pitching into the sixth inning in three of four starts. Kikuchi has certainly made midstream adjustments and looks a lot more like the pitcher Toronto hoped it was getting. Kikuchi is one component of what you need to study when making a Blue Jays Angels prediction.
Michael Lorenzen has a 3.05 ERA. He has made seven starts this season, with five being strong outings and two being weak ones. In his five strong starts, Lorenzen has pitched 33 1/3 innings and allowed only five runs. In his two weak starts, Lorenzen pitched eight innings and gave up nine runs. Most of the time, he has been dependable for the Halos. He is someone to trust when making a Blue Jays Angels pick.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Blue Jays-Angels MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Blue Jays-Angels Odds
Toronto Blue Jays: -1.5 (+150)
Los Angeles Angels: +1.5 (-182)
Over: 8.5 (-108)
Under: 8.5 (-112)
Article Continues Below
*Watch MLB Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)
Why The Blue Jays Could Cover the Spread
The Blue Jays seem to have revived themselves after an ugly stretch in which they lost 12 of 19 games and nine of 14. Toronto has struggled to hit this year, especially with runners in scoring position. The Blue Jays were hitting under .190 with RISP in their first 41 games of the season. Vladimir Guerrero and Teoscar Hernandez had been struggling. The team needed a pick-me-up moment. It got one on Tuesday with an eight-run explosion in a blowout win over the Cardinals in St. Louis. Once everyone started hitting — and Guerrero broke a 15-game homerless streak — the bats began to wake up. Toronto carried momentum into the first game of this series on Thursday, scoring six runs in a comfortable win. Then the Jays rallied for a 4-3 win on Friday. The team endured its slump but now appears to have regained the winning edge it had when it started the season 15-8. Moreover, Michael Lorenzen is not a shutdown ace. The Jays have to think they can get to him. This is something to note when assessing the Blue Jays Angels odds.
Why The Angels Could Cover the Spread
After losing the first two games of this series, the Angels are in a bounce-back spot. Yusei Kikuchi has been better for Toronto in May, but having pitched with the Mariners last year, the Angels saw him a lot and will be familiar with him. That should help the Halos score runs in bunches. Michael Lorenzen, while not an elite pitcher, has quietly been very good for Los Angeles. The Angels should feel confident about this pitching matchup, and they also know that Mike Trout, who has been contained by the Blue Jays in the first two games of this series, is going to bust out of a slump before too long. There are plenty of good reasons to take the Halos in a Blue Jays Angels pick.
Final Blue Jays-Angels Prediction & Pick
Frankly, this is a stay-away game. The Blue Jays might be getting hot again, but the Angels are in a bounce-back spot. Neither pitcher is dominant, but both are performing well right now. There doesn't seem to be a consensus about this game. If you do have to pick, might as well take the home team plus a run and a half.
Final Blue Jays-Angels Prediction & Pick: Angels +1.5
