The Toronto Blue Jays are paying a visit to Minute Maid Park to take on the Houston Astros. The opening pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET and ATTSN Southwest will broadcast this AL showdown.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Odds
Vegas is listing Houston (-235) as the favorite over Toronto (+215). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -120 for over eight runs and +100 for under eight. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at -105 for the Blue Jays +1.5 runs and -115 for the Astros -1.5 runs.
The Blue Jays have gone only 25-43 SU this year and are 30-37 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 16.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 13.4 units ATS. Toronto’s covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Astros, on the other hand, are 46-23 SU and 38-31 ATS. They’ve gained 8.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 6.2 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Houston games have an over/under record of 30-38-1 so far in 2019. The Blue Jays have an over/under record of 30-35-2.
Aaron Sanchez is getting the nod for the visiting Blue Jays. The right-handed Sanchez (3-7, 4.25 ERA) has recorded 61 strikeouts in 72 innings so far. He has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Astros are going with righty Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.72 ERA), who has 130 strikeouts and 20 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.00. Cole did not record a start against the Blue Jays in 2018.
Houston’s pitching staff has given up 3.8 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 3.56, a WHIP of 1.04 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.2. The bullpen has a 3.45 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.9 K/9.
The Houston offense is putting up 5.1 runs per contest, including 5.2 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .186/.286/.343 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
Outfielders Michael Brantley and Josh Reddick have led the Astros’ hitters this year. Brantley is slashing .316/.371/.516 with 10 home runs, 39 RBIs and 32 runs scored, and Reddick’s line is .297/.336/.437 with seven homers, 23 RBIs and 28 runs.
For the visitors, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 4.95 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.54 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.11, along with a WHIP of 1.48 and a K-per-9 of 9.45.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .222/.290/.383 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game this season, including 4.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Freddy Galvis and Randal Grichuk continue to lead Toronto’s hitters. Galvis is slashing .238/.277/.404 with nine home runs, 27 RBIs and 28 runs scored, while Grichuk (.221/.280/.411) is up to 12 homers, 26 RBIs and 33 runs scored.
The Blue Jays have lost 18.5 units and are 19-27 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 21 of those games, compared to 23 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have netted 1.7 units and are 26-23 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 23 of those games, compared to 25 that went under the total.
Blue Jays vs. Astros MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Toronto has tallied 17 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Houston has 12 XBH over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have a team OPS of .673 this season and an OPS of .674 against right-handed pitchers. The Astros’ OPS stands at .814 overall and .796 against righties.
- Toronto has posted 20.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.8 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 13 over their last 10.
