MLB Odds & Picks for Blue Jays vs. Tigers: The Run Line Bet to Make
Mark Blinch/Getty Images. Pictured: George Springer.
- The Toronto Blue Jays travel to Michigan on Friday to take on the Detroit Tigers in an American League battle.
- The Jays have been rolling on offense, and that shouldn't stop on Friday.
- Check out Nick Shlain's top bet for Friday's Blue Jays vs. Tigers matchup below.
Blue Jays vs. Tigers Odds
| Blue Jays Odds | -220 |
| Tigers Odds | +184 |
| Over/Under | 8.5 (-120 / -102) |
| Time | 7:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
The Toronto Blue Jays enter play Friday night in third place in the American League East at 33-23. Toronto has won seven of its last 10 games and holds a lead on the second wild-card spot in the American League.
The Detroit Tigers sit in fourth place in the American League Central at 23-33 and have the third-worst run differential in the American League at -60. Detroit has won six of its last 10 games, though.
Comerica Park in Detroit is the closest ballpark in America to Toronto, and there's typically a large contingent of Blue Jays fans when they play the Tigers in Detroit.
While the Blue Jays should feel right at home with their fans in attendance, will they get the job done and beat the Tigers on the road?
Expect Blue Jays Offense to Keep Rolling
The Blue Jays are known for their strong offensive attack, as they have a powerful lineup that features George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez.
However, the Jays enter play Friday tied for 16th in all of baseball in runs scored this season. The Blue Jays are implied to score over five runs in this matchup as they face Tigers rookie right-hander Elvin Rodriguez.
In his last start against the Yankees, Rodriguez allowed 10 earned runs in 4.1 innings. After the game, video circulated online showing Rodriguez was tipping his pitches with men on base, as it appeared he would pick his head up before delivering the ball if he was throwing an off-speed pitch with runners on base.
The Yankees took advantage of this in a big way as they hit Rodriguez for 10 runs, but he's allowed at least four earned runs in two of his three other starts too.
Perhaps Rodriguez has been able to correct his pitch tipping with men on base between starts. But even if he does improve, the Blue Jays should be able to score at least four runs against him in the first half of the game. In four starts, Rodriguez has a 5.85 xFIP, 19% K%, 9% BB% and 37% ground ball percentage.
The Tigers have a good bullpen behind him, but it'll likely be a struggle for Rodriguez to hold down the Blue Jays offense early in this one.
Tigers Continue to Struggle
The Tigers offense didn't have the same preseason expectations as the Blue Jays, but nobody thought they'd be quite this bad. Detroit enters play Friday dead last in all of baseball in runs scored this season. The Tigers are 32 runs behind the next closest team, the Pirates.
Detroit will have outfielder Austin Meadows back in the lineup after returning from the injured list, but outfielder Robbie Grossman is still on the injured list, and outfielders Akil Baddoo and Riley Greene are currently still in the minor leagues.
The Tigers will face Jose Berrios here. Despite his 5.24 ERA on the season, he's pitched well lately. Two of Berrios' last three starts have been quality starts, and in his last start, he struck out 13 Twins over seven innings of two-run ball.
Despite the Tigers' lack of run-scoring, they also strike out quite a bit. They're tied for 14th in all of baseball in strikeouts. Detroit's projected lineup features just three hitters with a K% below 20% against right-handed pitching this season.
Berrios hasn't faced the Tigers yet this season, but he should have the upper hand in this matchup.
Blue Jays-Tigers Pick
I'm confident in the Blue Jays here. I'm so confident that we're going to take them on the run line -1.5 at -130 odds at DraftKings.
The Tigers offense is in a tough spot here against Berrios, who has been pitching better lately.
On the other side, the Blue Jays offense should have their way with Rodriguez, especially if he hasn't corrected his pitch tipping issues with runners on base.
The Tigers have a solid bullpen, but I don't believe that'll be enough to stop the Blue Jays here.
Pick: Blue Jays -1.5 (-130)
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