Angels vs Blue Jays Series Preview: Toronto Big Game 1 Favorites

The Angels vs Blue Jays series preview notes Los Angeles is on a four-game winning streak and has moved within 3.0 of a wild card spot. Toronto currently holds one of the wild card positions. The Blue Jays are 5-5 over their last 10 ball games.

The Angels will send Lucas Giolito to the mound, where he’ll face Kevin Gausman. The Blue Jays are solid -183 favorites in the game. The total is 8.5 (-105/-115) and Toronto is +105 on the run line. This is Giolito’s first start as a member of the Angeles.

Los Angeles is 54-49 on the season, including a 25-26 record on the road. The Angels are 30-35 against teams playing at .500 or better on the year. Los Angeles is No. 9 in team batting average and as a team, are one of the home run leaders in MLB. The Angels are third with 161 round-trippers and are No. 5 in runs scored.

Los Angeles is No. 19 in team ERA, which is one reason they went out and picked up Giolito. The pitching staff has converted 32 of 49 save opportunities, so they’re not doing all that bad.

The Blue Jays are 57-46 on the season and have gone 27-20 at home. Toronto is 34-38 against .500 or better teams. Toronto is No. 5 in team batting average, but No. 13 in runs scored. One reason for that is a lack of power, as the Blue Jays are No. 16 in home runs.

Toronto has produced good pitching, ranking No. 6 in team ERA. The Blue Jays have converted 35 of 48 save opportunities.

Friday’s Game

This is one of the better matchups on today’s MLB schedule. Giolito hasn’t pitched badly this season, going 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA, while Gausman is 7-5 with a 3.18 ERA. The Blue Jays are just 10-10 when he starts primarily due to averaging just 3.45 runs offensively. Toronto is 5-4 with Gausman pitching at home. The Blue Jays are probably the right side. But laying -183 to a good hitting team with a decent starting pitcher isn’t a good long-term strategy. It’s best to look at the under here and hope to see the starters do their thing.

Saturday’s Game

The Angeles vs Blue Jays series preview has Reid Detmers and Alek Manoah as the two scheduled starters for Saturday’s day game. Detmers is 2-7 with a 4.38 ERA this season. He’s pitched a little better than his record indicates. He’s lost a few tough games and the Angeles haven’t given him a lot of run support at times this season. Los Angeles is 7-11 when he starts this season, but only  1-6 when he starts on the road.

Manoah has pitched a little better since being recalled from the minor leagues. But he’s still not resembling his 2022 form. The Blue Jays have won two of his three starts since he was recalled. The total here will be a bit on the high side, but it looks to be the way to go, as neither starting pitcher inspires a lot of confidence.

Sunday’s Game

The Angeles vs Blue Jays series preview has Tyler Anderson and Jose Berrios as the listed starters for the series finale. Anderson is 5-2 despite a 5.23 ERA and Berrios is 8-7 with a 3.40 ERA. The Angeles have gone 10-7 with Anderson on the mound. But Los Angeles is scoring 5.71 runs per game. With the offense scoring and Anderson not pitching particularly well, those who partake in baseball betting have seen overs go 11-6 when Anderson starts.

The Blue Jays are 13-8 with Berrios on the mound. Toronto is 7-10-4 in totals when he starts. Berrios has been even better at home, where the Blue Jays are 6-3 when he starts and 1-6-2. In his nine home starts, Toronto has allowed four or more runs just twice. The price will be high on the Blue Jays, but they look like the way to go in the final game of the series.
Follow us on Twitter

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• Braves vs Red Sox Odds: Atlanta Asserting Itself as World Series Favorite
• Angels vs Tigers Series Preview: Detroit Favored in Opener
• Mets vs Yankees Betting Preview: Verlander Has Mets Favored in Series Opener
• Marlins vs Rays Odds: Are The Florida Teams Falling Apart?
• Rangers vs Astros Series Preview: Texas Looks to Maintain Grip on AL West