Blue Jays vs. Yankees Pick
Will the Toronto Blue Jays down the host New York Yankees with their ace on the mound Saturday afternoon? Game time is 1:05PM EST.
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have listed the Yankees as a -164 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Blue Jays are a +142 underdog and the over-under is set at 9.
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On the mound for Toronto will be Marcus Stroman (13-8, 3.06 ERA), while New York counters with CC Sabathia (13-5, 3.84). Stroman carries a 1.30 WHIP with 162 strikeouts over 197 innings. He allowed three earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and four walks over 5 2/3 innings in a 9-5 home win over the Yankees his last start. Stroman has a 3.68 ERA in 14 home starts. Sabathia holds a 1.29 WHIP with 114 strikeouts in 143 innings. He gave up three earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk over six innings in an 11-3 home win over the Royals his last outing. Sabathia has a 4.54 ERA in 69 1/3 innings.
Toronto has a 75-85 record and is 33-46 on the road, while New York is 90-79 and 50-29 at home. The Blue Jays have won six of the last 10 meetings and the over-under is 4-5-1 in those games.
On Saturday, the Yankees won 4-0 behind a career-best 15-strikeout performance from Masahiro Tanaka. He gave up three hits with no walks over seven shutout innings. Didi Gregorius was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Greg Bird went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Aroldis Chapman earned his 21st save. Josh Donaldson had the lone extra-base hit for the Blue Jays with a double in four at-bats. Joe Biagini allowed three earned runs in five innings to take the loss.
Stroman’s high groundball rate will help offset the power hitters the Yankees have all over their lineup. With the Red Sox playing at the same time, no doubt New York will be scoreboard watching as it plays its game. If the Red Sox jump out to a big lead, the Yankees might take their foot off the gas pedal knowing a loss ends their chances for a division title. Look for Toronto to have an easier time with Sabathia than it did Tanaka and for Stroman to do the rest.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO BLUE JAYS +142