The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays battle in AL East action on Friday.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles are battling for the second spot in the AL East behind the Tampa Bay Rays. Both teams are playing well, but the Orioles have been the bigger surprise. Baltimore was expected to vie for last place in the division, but continues to win challenging games.
The MLB odds for Friday’s AL East battle favor the Blue Jays at -145 on the moneyline.
Orioles Chomping at the Rays’ Heels
The Orioles continue to play above expectations, and we’re getting to the point where we might have to admit this team is good. Their young stars led them to a 10-4 record against the spread in their previous 14 games, and they are 15-6 ATS as a road team. If not for a sketchy starter on the mound, the O’s would be in a fantastic spot to cash MLB picks.
Blue Jays One Game Out of Last Place
Despite being on the right side of a pitching mismatch, there are numerous reasons to fade the Blue Jays in this matchup. One of the more apparent shortcomings is Toronto’s poor betting record in recent games. The Blue Jays are 1-5 ATS in their last six games and cover just 40% of the time as home favorites.
Starting Pitchers
Kyle Gibson (4-3, 4.67) vs Yusei Kikuchi (5-0, 3.89)
Gibson started the season well, but his results have taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks. His ERA during May is an abysmal 6.11, and he’s getting beat up by bad teams such as the Kansas City Royals. The O’s have been shut out in his last three starts, and Gibson has recorded three straight losing decisions. I feel like he’s not worth my MLB bet.
On the other hand, Kikuchi is a pitcher we can get behind. The veteran southpaw has yet to lose a decision, and the Blue Jays are 5-2 against the MLB spread in games he starts. It is worth noting that he struggles against the current O’s with a .303 opponent batting average in 66 plate appearances.
Orioles vs Blue Jays Head-to Head
The Blue Jays have dominated the Orioles with a 9-2 MLB betting record in their previous 11 meetings. Both have identical 6-4 records in their last 10 games, but the O’s faced far easier competition.
Orioles vs Blue Jays Game Information
- Game: Orioles (28-16) vs Blue Jays (25-19)
- Location Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
- Day/Time: Friday,7:07 p.m. ET
- Baltimore Orioles vs Toronto Blue Jays Live Stream: MLB.tv
Orioles vs Blue Jays Betting Lines
Over/Under Pick
The under is 12-6-1 this season when the Blue Jays are the home team and cashes more than 66% of the time as home favorites. The Jays’ previous two games went under the total and in five of their last eight.
It’s a similar story for the Orioles, with the under 7-2-2 in their last 11 contests.
Pick: Over 9½ (-105)
Moneyline Pick
The Blue Jays have a clear advantage on the mound, and Kikuchi will be the difference-maker on Friday. We like what the Orioles are doing, but they are heavy underdogs for a reason, and we’re not risking a dime on Gibson.
Pick: Blue Jays -155
Spread Pick
My best bet for this game is for the Blue Jays to win and cover on the back of Kikuchi and Toronto’s above-average bullpen. The Jays are 7-1 when Kikuchi starts, and we’re betting that trend continues on Friday.
Pick: Blue Jays -1½ (+120)
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
