The New York Yankees (73-45) prepare to host the Toronto Blue Jays (62-54) in this AL East ball game this week on the MLB schedule.
MLB Performance Recap
The Yankees broke out of their slump in a major way on Wednesday. Josh Donaldson smacked a walk-off grand slam after New York was trailing by three runs against the Rays in extra innings.
Perhaps the Yankees will find their rhythm once again following the dramatic moment. The Blue Jays snapped a four-game skid with a 6-1 win over the Orioles on Wednesday.
Toronto has labored as of late as well. They will try to right the ship in New York against the Yankees. Game 2’s first pitch is scheduled for Thursday, August 18th, at Yankee Stadium in New York. Let’s take a look at Blue Jays vs. Yankees odds.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees Odds
The Yankees enter play as the home favorites. Neither team has played inspired baseball over the past couple of weeks, so New York’s standing as a home favorite makes sense.
The over/under is set at around eight, according to most sportsbooks. With these two loaded offenses, it would not be surprising to see the over-hit.
However, both lineups haven’t been swinging the bats as effectively during their recent team slumps. Nonetheless, I like the over in this contest. But which team should you place your MLB betting picks on today?
Blue Jays vs. Yankees Betting Preview
Jose Berrios Analysis
Jose Berrios (8-5, 5.61) has been a major disappointment for Toronto in 2022. The right-hander was supposed to be their ace but has become a liability this season.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the issue is. However, it seems to be as simple as not hitting location. Berrios will face a difficult opponent in New York on Thursday.
Frankie Montas Analysis
Frankie Montas (4-9, 3.59) was a major addition ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline for New York. The right-hander hasn’t been dominant this year, but he’s been good enough.
Montas profiles well on this Yankees team. He’s the kind of pitcher who is going to keep you in games despite giving up some runs.
It will be interesting to see if the New York bats can provide him with a quality amount of run support on Thursday.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees Picks and Predictions
So who wins this game? Can the Blue Jays upset the MLB odds, or will the Yankees cover the set run line?
On the season, the Yankees hold a 52-65 against the run line record. Meanwhile, Toronto is 49-67 against the run line. So neither team holds much of an advantage from a straight-up against the run-line perspective.
New York is 26-32 against the run line at Yankee Stadium, and Toronto is 25-30 against the run line on the road.
However, Toronto holds one against the spread advantage. The Yankees are just 46-63 against the run line when playing as a favorite. But the Blue Jays are 13-5 against the run line as an underdog.
Are Statistics Enough?
Despite a fairly limited sample size, the Blue Jays have played well in underdog scenarios. But is this statistic enough to place a bet on them? No. Here are two reasons why you should roll with the Yankees on Thursday.
First off, New York is going to have a ton of momentum following the incredible Josh Donaldson walk-off grand slam.
Look for the team to come out firing on all cylinders to open this four-game set with Toronto. Secondly, Jose Berrios is almost impossible to trust at the moment.
Who to Bet On?
Berrios was a good pitcher during his time in Minnesota with the Twins. And he still has the potential to rebound and become an All-Star caliber starter again.
But right now, our MLB picks today to tell us Berrios looks lost on the mound. The Yankees are going to give him some trouble.
MLB Pick: Yankees -1.5 (+140)
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