Cleveland Indians at Toronto Blue Jays Free Preview

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The Toronto Blue Jays are facing off against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre. SportsTime Ohio will be airing this AL showdown and the game gets going at 7:07 p.m. ET.

Cleveland Indians at Toronto Blue Jays Odds

Oddsmakers have listed Toronto (+175) as the underdog to Cleveland (-185). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +100 for over nine runs and -120 for under nine. The game’s current runline odds sit at -130 for betting the Indians -1.5 runs and +110 for the Blue Jays +1.5 runs.

The Blue Jays are 63-77 straight up (SU) and 58-81 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 11.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 34.4 units (ATS). Toronto has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Indians are 80-60 SU and have gone 67-72 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 16.8 units for moneyline bettors and 13.7 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.

Blue Jays games have had an over/under record of 72-59-8 in 2018. Cleveland has an over/under record of 67-65-7.

The right-handed Carlos Carrasco is the projected starter for the visiting Indians. Carrasco is 16-8 with a 3.52 ERA and 187 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with seven strikeouts and a 10.13 ERA against Toronto this year.

The Blue Jays are putting the ball in the right hand of Marco Estrada (7-11, 5.43 ERA), who’s got 90 punchouts and 43 walks this season as well as a 1.41 WHIP. Estrada has yet to face the Indians this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 9.64 ERA and three strikeouts across 4.2 innings).

As a unit, Toronto’s pitching staff has allowed 5.2 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 5.26, a WHIP of 1.45 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.6. The bullpen has a 4.39 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.

The Toronto hitters have produced 4.5 runs per outing, including 4.0 per game over its last 10 games and 4.2 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .256/.337/.396 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.

The Blue Jays’ hitters have been led by first baseman Justin Smoak and right fielder Kevin Pillar. Smoak is hitting .249/.356/.469 with 23 home runs, 71 RBIs and 62 runs scored, and Pillar is hitting .246 with 11 homers, 51 RBIs, 54 runs and 13 stolen bases.

In the visiting dugout, Cleveland’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.40 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 9.56 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.68, along with a K/9 of 9.07.

The Indians offense has slashed .258/.331/.436 on its way to 5.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).

Shortstop Francisco Lindor and left fielder Michael Brantley continue to lead Cleveland’s offense. Lindor is hitting .288/.362/.535 with 33 home runs, 84 RBIs, 117 runs and 22 steals, while Brantley is hitting .303/.356/.463 with 14 homers, 70 RBIs and 77 runs scored.

The Indians have lost 13.6 units and are 50-54 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 50 of those games, as opposed to 49 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have netted 6.3 units and are 40-53 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 49 of those games, compared to 40 that’ve gone under.

Cleveland Indians vs. Toronto Blue Jays MLB Tip

Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER

Betting Notes,

  • The over has hit in only two of Cleveland’s last seven games.
  • The Indians have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
  • Toronto has posted 21.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.0 over its last five.