The Toronto Blue Jays are ready to play the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET and RSN Sports will be airing this interleague matchup.
Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies Odds
Philadelphia (+100) is coming into this one as the underdog against Toronto (-110) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this day game at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the games total stand at -115 for the over and -105 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the runline odds sitting at Blue Jays -1.5 runs (+135) and Phillies +1.5 runs (-155).
The Phillies are 29-20 SU and 23-25 ATS. The team has gained 5.8 units for moneyline bettors while earning 3.4 units against the spread (ATS). Philadelphia has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Blue Jays have gone 24-28 SU this year and are 26-25 ATS. In total, the teams lost 4.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in the seasons early going and 0.9 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in two of those seven.
Philadelphia games have an over/under record of 21-24-3 so far in 2018. Toronto has an over/under record of 22-21-8.
The left-handed J.A. Happ will get the start for the visiting Blue Jays. Happ is 6-3 with a 3.97 ERA and 71 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Phillies this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Phillies are handing the ball to righty Nick Pivetta (4-2, 3.23 ERA), who has 60 strikeouts and 12 walks, as well as a 1.08 WHIP. Pivetta did not record a start against the Blue Jays in 2017.
As a unit, Philadelphia’s pitching staff has given up 3.7 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has a 3.33 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.42 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.
The Philadelphia hitters have put up 4.5 runs per outing, including 3.7 per game over its last 10 games and 3.0 per game over their last five. The team has hit .226/.297/.396 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Phillies batters have been led by right fielder Odubel Herrera and second baseman Cesar Hernandez. Herrera is slashing .333/.398/.522 with seven home runs, 30 RBIs and 25 runs scored, and Hernandez line is .269/.377/.419 with six homers, 17 RBIs, 35 runs and nine stolen bases.
Compared to his total season slash line of .296/.376/.425, Hernandez enjoyed batting against left-handed pitching at home last season, producing .352/.410/.577 across 78 plate appearances.
In the other dugout, Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 5.20 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 8.10 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.74, along with a K/9 of 9.02.
The Blue Jays offense has slashed .229/.310/.408 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game this season, including 4.1 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the teams last five outings (2-3 SU).
Toronto’s offense has been powered by outfielder Kevin Pillar and third baseman Yangervis Solarte, who have combined to blast 15 home runs. Pillar is hitting .283/.325/.466 with four home runs, 21 RBIs, 26 runs and eight stolen bases, while Solarte is hitting .267/.332/.497 with 11 homers, 32 RBIs and 25 runs scored.
The Blue Jays have gained 0.1 units and are 14-17 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 16 of those games, compared to 11 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Phillies have netted 3.8 units and are 7-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in five of those games, as opposed to six which went under the total.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Phillies, ATS Winner – Phillies, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Philadelphia has posted 18.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.4 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Phillies have hit 13 over their last 10.
