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Happy Thursday everyone! Another highly anticipated matchup in the world of Major League Baseball will take place tonight, as the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees will go to battle and conclude their four-game series. Check out our MLB odds series where our Blue Jays-Yankees prediction and pick will be made.
After taking two of three from the Yankees at their home ballpark, Toronto will look to make a statement with a series-clinching win on Thursday evening. Toronto is 4-2 through six games thus far, including a 2-1 record as the road team thus far. The Blue Jays will give RHP Kevin Gausman his second start of the campaign, as the 31-year-old twirler will look to improve off his last outing in which he pitched five innings while allowing three runs on eight hits total.
After coming out hot by defeating Boston twice to begin the year at 2-0, New York has been slumping over the past week, as they have lost three of four. The Yankees will give the ball to former ace in righty Luis Severino, who left a lot to be desired after pitching only three innings. Severino did show flashes though, as he managed to strike out five batters in his brief season debut start.
Here are the Blue Jays-Yankees MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Blue Jays-Yankees Odds
Toronto Blue Jays: +1.5 (-192)
New York Yankees: -1.5 (+158)
Over: 8.5 (-108)
Under: 8.5 (-112)
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Why The Blue Jays Could Cover the Spread
Once again, the Blue Jays have seemed to have the Yankee's number as of late. With a win on Thursday night, Toronto will move their record at Yankees Stadium to a commanding 11-3 mark in their previous 14 games.
If Toronto is going to pull it off, look no further than 1B Vladimir Guerrero, who was on fire in belting three home runs into the bleachers on Wednesday. It was the second three home run game in Guerrero's young career, as the MVP candidate hopeful is hitting .391 with four homers and eight RBIs through his first six games of the year. Even more impressive, Guerrero was able to smack his second and third homers after having his finger stepped on in the second inning, leaving him bloodied and needing stitches to stop it from gushing any further.
Guerrero is quickly becoming one of the premier faces in all of baseball and is even starting to make people wonder if he is already better than what his pops was able to accomplish in his own hall-of-fame career respectively. While Vlad Jr. still has a ways to go for his name to be called in Cooperstown, the slammin' slugger gives the Blue Jays a chance to cover the spread and win nearly every game they suit up for.
Even though the Blue Jays offense is a top-ten club in almost every hitting statistical category, Toronto has lacked pitching consistency through six games, as the Blue Jays have accumulated a 5.06 team ERA up to this point. Enter Kevin Gausman, who will look to pitch a strong and effective outing out on the rubber. Gausman has pitched rather well against the ‘Yanks throughout his career, as he has recorded a 3.77 ERA in 24 appearances versus New York.
Why The Yankees Could Cover the Spread
With the first two series of the season coming against divisional opponents, the Yankees are desperate to get back in the win column versus the Blue Jays. With a roster that has the pieces to compete for a title, New York must find a way to put it all together, especially in an unforgiving division that may see three AL East clubs playing in the postseason when 2022 is all but said and done.
It is well noted that Severino hasn't seen much playing time over the last couple of seasons, so the rustiness of sitting out for so long has still reared its ugly head in stretches. While Yankees manager Aaron Boone may be cautious with Severino and his workload to start the season, the arm talent still exists with the 28-year-old. Severino only fired up three innings five days ago, and it wouldn't be shocking if he pitched a similar amount of innings before the long relievers in the Yankees' pen take over as the game moves to its later stages.
One name to be on the lookout for if the Yankees are going to cover the spread? How about first-baseman Anthony Rizzo, who has swatted a team-leading three home runs and seven RBIs thus far. Rizzo tends to rake against right-handed pitching, so the former Cub may be in for another productive day at the dish.
Final Blue Jays-Yankees Prediction & Pick
Until the Yankees can prove they can win consistently at home versus the Blue Jays, there is no reason that picking New York at -1.5 is wise at all. The Blue Jays will get to Severino early and often in this one, forcing the already fatigued Yankee bullpen arms to pitch more than they'd like heading into the weekend slate. Toronto will cover against New York and then some.
Final Blue Jays-Yankees Pick: Blue Jays +1.5 (-192)
