Orioles vs. Blue Jays Saturday Pick
All the Toronto Blue Jays needed to get somewhat back on track is a visit from the Baltimore Orioles. Will Saturday’s matchup fall under the betting total as the Jays try to make it three in a row versus their AL East rivals?
Game Snapshot & Odds
915 Baltimore Orioles (+113) at 916 Toronto Blue Jays (-123); 9 runs
Saturday, June 9, 2018
1:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre
TV: BAL (MSN2); TOR (SNET)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Blue Jays as a -123 favorite. As of this writing, 74% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Blue Jays to beat the Orioles on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Orioles’ Gausman takes loss despite racking up nine strikeouts
Kevin Gausman allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings in Saturday’s loss to the Yankees. Something of an all-over-the-map showing for Gausman, who struck out nine without walking a batter while simultaneously being hit quite hard. The bulk of the damage came on a pair of two-run home runs, with Miguel Andujar and Giancarlo Stanton smacking dingers off him with a runner aboard in the second and third innings, respectively. Two more runs scored off Gausman in the sixth inning, aided by some incredibly sloppy play from the O’s in the field.
After tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts versus the White Sox on May 22, the Rays and Yankees have combined to tattoo him for 12 earned runs in his last two outings. The sudden rough patch has pushed his ERA from 3.48 to 4.63. Gausman will try to get back on track in a road date with the Blue Jays next time he toes the rubber.
Blue Jays’ Sanchez allows just one run in victory vs. Tigers
Aaron Sanchez allowed just one run over six innings in a victory over the Tigers on Sunday. Sanchez gave up just two hits, and he wiped away three walks with seven strikeouts against the Detroit lineup. The only blemish in this one for Sanchez was a solo homer by Leonys Martin. Outside of that, he was outstanding. Sanchez hasn’t shown a lick of consistency this year, but when he’s firing at all cylinders, he’s capable of efforts like this. He and his 4.48 ERA will be back on the mound on Saturday against the Orioles.
MLB Betting Trends
Baltimore
The Orioles are a perfect 7-0 in Gausman’s last seven starts versus the Blue Jays but are 31-63 in their last 94 games played at Rogers Centre and 1-4 in their last five games versus Toronto overall.
Toronto
The Blue Jays have lost six of Sanchez’s last seven home starts and are 4-9 in his last 13 outings overall.
Prediction:
The first two games in this series fell under the betting total and I expect this one to as well. Gausman isn’t having a great season but his numbers are only slightly below league-average while Sanchez is having an issue with walks (12.5%) but continues to generate groundballs (49.8%), which limits damage.
The under has also been an unbelivable bet in this series, going 26-5-1 in the last 32 meetings and 15-2 in the last 17 meetings in Toronto. The under is also 4-0 in Gausman’s last four starts versus the Blue Jays and 5-1 in Sanchez’s last six outings versus the Orioles.
The Pick: Orioles/Blue Jays under 9