Offensive Issues Mounting for Blue Jays
Blue Jays vs Tigers Betting Odds Favor Detroit in Opener
After getting swept by Kansas City, the Detroit Tigers return home for a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The series opener is slated for Thursday at 6:40 p.m. ET. MLB betting lines list Toronto as -1.5 (+160) on the run line and -105 on the moneyline for the opener, with Detroit +1.5 (-192) and -115. Meanwhile, the projected total is 7.5 with a slight edge to the over at -115 odds.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down both MLB teams and review the Blue Jays vs Tigers betting odds in our series preview.
Blue Jays vs Tigers 
Records: Toronto Blue Jays (22-26), Detroit Tigers (23-26)
Day/Time:
Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Streaming: MLB Network
Blue Jays vs Tigers Betting Trends
The Toronto Blue Jays have been a liability for over/under bettors, going 20-28. Only three teams have hit the under at a higher rate than the Blue Jays (58.3%). As for the run line, Toronto is 23-25.
The Detroit Tigers, meanwhile, are just 21-28 against the run line, including 2-8 over their last 10 MLB games. At the same time, the Tigers have been highly profitable for over/under bettors, hitting the over at a rate of 56.5% (26-20-3).
That’s important to remember when analyzing the Blue Jays vs Tigers betting odds.
Slow Goings for Toronto
The Toronto Blue Jays’ standings are off to a surprisingly poor start, with Toronto sitting last in the American League East at 22-26. The Blue Jays went 3-3 on their recent six-game homestand against the Rays and White Sox.
Projected for 87 wins, the Blue Jays will have to significantly pick up the pace to come anywhere close to meeting expectations. Only the Yankees (93.5 wins) began the season with a rosier outlook.
Run production, or lack thereof, has been the biggest culprit for Toronto’s struggles. The Blue Jays have scored only 182 runs, second-fewest in baseball ahead of the White Sox (143).
They also rank 27th in home runs and 23rd in batting average. For a team built on power, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer, those numbers are hard to overlook. Outfielder Daulton Varsho (eight HR, 25 RBI) is the only Blue Jay with more than five homers.
These struggles have fueled speculation about a potential fire sale this summer if the Blue Jays aren’t able to recover from their slow start.
Oddsmakers are skeptical of the Blue Jays’ outlook, pricing them +3500 longshots to win the AL East and AL pennant. Meanwhile, their World Series odds have dropped to +5000.
Tigers Trending Down
Detroit has hit the skids, losing four straight and six of its last eight games to fall to 23-26. The Tigers are coming off a three-game sweep against Kansas City in which they were outscored 26-9. They are now fourth in the AL Central, 9.5 games behind Cleveland. Their run differential is zero.
Projected for 80.5 wins, the Tigers still have a reasonable chance to beat expectations. First, they’ll need better production from their lineup, which ranks 20th in baseball in runs (202) and 29th in homers (39). Only the White Sox (35) have hit fewer long balls. Among the issues is first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who has only three homers and a .617 OPS. The former No. 1 overall pick hit 31 home runs last MLB season.
Despite their offensive struggles, the Tigers have routinely cashed in for over/under bettors. They’ve hit the over at a rate of 56.5%, the third highest in baseball behind Milwaukee (60.4%) and Miami (58.8%).
Regarding futures odds, the Tigers are +1900 to win the division and +4500 to win the AL pennant.
Series Probables
Game 1
- Thursday, 6:40 p.m. ET
- Kevin Gausman vs Jack Flaherty
After missing a chunk of spring training with shoulder soreness, Gausman has yet to round into form. The two-time All-Star has an uncharacteristically high 4.89 ERA through nine starts, along with a 1.51 WHIP. He’s given up six runs or more in three different starts, bloating his ERA.
The Tigers will counter with Flaherty, who has a 3.72 ERA and ranks fifth in baseball with 72 strikeouts. He struck out nine in his last start, an 8-3 win over Arizona on Saturday. His 9 strikeout/walk ratio is easily a career-best.
Be sure to keep that in mind when assessing the Blue Jays vs Tigers betting odds.
Game 2
- Friday, 6:40 p.m. ET
- Alek Manoah vs Matt Manning
Manoah has pitched fairly well since returning from Triple-A Buffalo, registering a 3.00 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in three starts. He tossed seven shutout innings in his last appearance, a 5-2 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. The 26-year-old right-hander is still trying to recapture his form from 2019 when he finished third in the AL Cy Young voting and was an All-Star.
He will face Manning, who has a 4.88 ERA in five starts. He last pitched Sunday, allowing four runs on 10 hits over five innings in a 6-4 loss to Arizona.
Game 3
- Saturday, 1:10 p.m. ET
- Jose Berrios vs Reese Olson
Berrios has arguably been Toronto’s most consistent starter, going 5-3 with a 2.98 ERA. He’s allowed three runs or fewer in nine of his 10 starts, except for a 10-1 loss to Philadelphia on May 7 (3.2 innings, eight runs). Home runs (nine allowed in 60.1 innings) have been an issue.
Olson, meanwhile, is 0-5 despite a 2.16 ERA. He exited Monday’s 8-3 loss to Kansas City after 2.2 innings because of a right hip contusion, the result of a 101.8 mph comebacker off the bat of Michael Massey.
Despite that, he’s on track to make his next start.
Game 4
- Sunday, 11:35 a.m. ET
- Yusei Kikuchi vs Casey Mize
Kikuchi has a 2.64 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. The veteran southpaw has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last nine starts.
He faces Mize, who lasted only 1.2 innings (nine hits, six runs) in his last start, a 10-3 loss to Kansas City on Tuesday. That caused his ERA to fall to 4.57.
For Detroit Tigers lineup news, betting analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
