The Toronto Blue Jays will host the Baltimore Orioles for the first of a four-game set on Thursday night. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Orioles-Blue Jays prediction and pick.
These teams will square off for the second time in a matter of days as the Blue Jays won the series against Baltimore earlier this week. That three game series featured a ton of offense with 36 combined runs being plated. Toronto is back over .500 at 37-35 and will look to build on the recent success against the reeling Orioles.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Orioles-Blue Jays odds.
MLB Odds: Orioles-Blue Jays Odds
Baltimore Orioles +1.5 (-115)
Toronto Blue Jays -1.5 (-105)
Over 11 Runs (-103)
Under 11 Runs (-117)
Why The Orioles Could Cover The Spread
The Baltimore Orioles are going through their typical struggles as they're currently 23-51 on the season. They have lost five straight games and nine of their last 10 coming into this series. Baltimore was just outscored 26-3 in a three-game series against the Houston Astros. The Orioles have given up at least seven runs in seven of their last 10 games.
Baltimore's offense has gone ice cold as they currently average 3.97 runs per game, which is the 24th-best mark in the Majors. They only score 3.56 runs and strike out close to 10 times per game on the road. The pitching staff does them no favors as they are one of the worst defensive clubs in baseball. The Orioles allow 5.39 runs per game, which is second-to-last in baseball. One bright spot for this club is that they actually allow close to a run less per game when playing on the road.
The Orioles will turn to right-hander Dean Kremer for the series opener. Kremer has been nothing short of awful this season with a 0-6 record and 6.20 ERA through 11 starts. The Orioles right-hander actually put together one of his best starts of the season against the Blue Jays earlier this week. Kremer allowed just two runs on three hits in six innings of work against Toronto on June 19.
Why The Blue Jays Could Cover The Spread
The Toronto Blue Jays have been an exciting club to watch this season despite their inconsistencies. They are one of the best offensive clubs in all of baseball that finds ways to string together wins in spurts. Toronto has won four of their last five games, which has helped improve their record to 37-35 on the season.
The Blue Jays average 4.94 runs on 8.88 hits per game this season, which is good for sixth and second in the league, respectively. They are led by MVP-candidate Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .340 with 23 long balls and 60 RBI. Toronto put up 18 runs in three games against Baltimore earlier this week, which they hope to replicate at home. The pitching staff is near the middle of the pack in most categories and should have the clear advantage in this series.
Toronto will turn to left-hander Anthony Kay for the series opener. Kay hasn't had the start to his season that he would've hoped for with a 0-2 record and 6.43 ERA through six appearances and four starts. The southpaw has been used in more of an opener type of role as he hasn't thrown more than four innings in each of his last three starts. Kay allowed two runs on three hits in 3.1 innings against the Orioles in his most recent start on June 19.
Final Orioles-Blue Jays Prediction & Pick
These two clubs are going down completely different paths at this point in the season. The Blue Jays have won four straight games and will be looking to keep their playoff hopes alive down the stretch. Baltimore, on the other hand, is basically mathematically out of contention already and hasn't done themselves any favors lately. The trajectory of these two clubs is night and day and I expect the Blue Jays to continue their winning streak in a resounding way at home.
FINAL PICK: Toronto Blue Jays -1.5 (-105)
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