Blue Jays vs Mariners Odds Preview: Key Players, Trends, and Predictions

We start our Toronto Blue Jays (54-43) at Seattle Mariners (48-48) odds preview with a look at the opening betting line for this weekend’s series. Toronto sends Yusei Kikuchi (7-3, 4.13 era) to the hill against Bryce Miller (6-3, 3.66) for the M’s. Oddsmakers have made Seattle a -110/EV favorite in game one with a total of 8 (over -115/-105). The first pitch is scheduled for 10:10 pm ET/7:10 pm PT. With massive American League East MLB standings implications, this is one match-up worth starting up for. Let’s start our Jays vs Mariners odds preview by putting the spotlight on the Jays.

Jays Avoid Sweep, Win 9th Time in 12 Games

Toronto avoided a home sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres yesterday, after scoring just five runs in three games. Overall the Blue Jays continue to roll toward a wild-card berth and maybe a division title as they trail the Baltimore Orioles by just 5.5 games in the American League East. MLB team stats clearly shows the potential this Toronto Blue Jays offense has with the 5th ranked batting average (.261), .416 slugging average (11th), and .745 OPS (11th), but there is one clear difference between 2022 and 2023 and that’s their power game.

Toronto is just 17th in baseball with 117 homers (1.21 per game), quite a drop from a team that was seventh in baseball in 2022 with 200 bombs (1.24 per game). The per-game average isn’t that far off, but not one Blue Jay is on pace for 30 homers. Bo Bichette leads the team with 16 home runs (27 paces), followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr who has smacked 15 (26 paces). Guerrero hit 32 homers in 2022 and 48 in 2011. That’s a massive loss in power and will be the difference between Toronto winning the division or fighting for a wild card spot. Let’s continue our Jays vs Mariners odds preview by moving our attention to the Seattle Mariners.

Kelenic Out, Pitching Finally Steps Back Up for Mariners

The Seattle Mariners have put Jarred Kelenic on the 10-day IL with a broken foot after kicking a cooler in frustration against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday. The former New York Met struck out in the 9th inning of their 6-3 loss leading to the incident. Perhaps it may not be the worst thing for the outfielder who seems to be pressing some while mired in a 13-54 slump (.241 slump, 11 points lower than his season average). The 24-year-old has not hit a home run since June 9th (33 games), after hitting 11 his his first 62 games.

The Mariners have not been in form of late, allowing 22 earned runs in their three games prior to shutting out the Minnesota Twins, 5-0, Thursday. Seattle owns Major League Baseball’s 5th best ERA (3.79) but of late the Mariners staff has shown some concerning cracks, allowing five earned runs or more in five of their last eight games. We conclude our Blue Jays and Mariners odds preview with our official selection.

Blue Jays Getting Early Public Money

It’s likely that these teams will be fighting for position in the MLB wild-card standings come September. Toronto needs to put more crooked numbers on the board, while the Mariners need to get on base with more regularity to support their pitching. Despite the Mariners playing at home, the betting public is all over the plus money with the Toronto Blue Jays with 63% of the early money in on the Jays. That has pushed the opening numbers down from a consensus -120 to -111 in some spots. Behind Bryce Miller, we’re recommending a wager on the Seattle Mariners on the run-line (+170).

Miller has not allowed more than three earned runs in his last five starts, allowing Seattle to rack up three wins in those starts. Kikuchi has been terrific in his last two starts against Oakland and Miami, but over his last four games has given up 10 earned runs in his last 22.1 innings (4.03 era). That’s normally not a bad era to put your money behind but the lefty has failed to ring up a quality start in three of his last five games. Take the Mariners and the generous plus money. That does it for our Blue Jays vs Mariners odds preview, we wish you all the best with your wagers this weekend.

For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• Justin Verlander Stats: Verlander, Scherzer Must be Pillars for Mets Success
• Los Angeles Angels Standings Collapse: Are they Worth Backing Anytime Soon?
• New York Yankees vs Oakland Athletics Series Preview: No Judge, No Problem?
• White Sox vs Twins Odds: Are The Minnesota Twins Frauds?
• Diamondbacks vs Reds betting preview: A pair of surprising National League