Toronto Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles: Odds, Prediction
It’s back on the road for seven games starting Thursday night for the Toronto Blue Jays as they visit the AL East-rival Orioles for the first time this season to open a four-game set. Baltimore is -125 on the MLB odds with a total of 8.5 runs.
Betting Analysis
Three years ago, when the Baltimore Orioles won 101 games and the AL East title, they looked like a rising powerhouse in the Junior Circuit with a ton of young talent. But for whatever reason, things didn’t work out that way – in part due to injury and also former ownership being rather cheap.
But after sliding to 75 wins last year, the fairly new ownership spent money this offseason led by free-agent Mets slugger Pete Alonso and former Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, among some other additions via free agency or trade for first-year manager Craig Albernaz. Helsley was really good before landing on the injured list in late April and still there.
Really, though, it’s more of the same with Baltimore four games under .500 and fourth in the AL East. The team still doesn’t have close to enough starting pitching and has nothing close to an ace. To reach the playoffs, the Orioles are +260 with no at -320.
Thursday marks the first meeting of the season between the Blue Jays and Orioles. Toronto won seven of 13 last year but was 2-4 at beautiful Camden Yards. The Jays haven’t won a season series in Baltimore since 2022.
Toronto Blue Jays
Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returned to the lineup in Thursday’s 2-1 home win over Miami for the first time since leaving Sunday’s game with an elbow injury. Rookie Kazuma Okamoto hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning Thursday. He leads the club in homers (11) and RBIS (29). Prior to the game, Toronto optioned pitcher Tanner Andrews to Triple-A Buffalo and recalled Austin Voth from there to work out of the big-league bullpen. And prior to Thursday’s game, the Jays will recall infielder Charles McAdoo from Buffalo. The franchise’s No. 26 overall prospect has yet to debut in the Show. Veteran lefty Patrick Corbin (2-1, 3.86 ERA) is on the mound Thursday. The 36-year-old comes off arguably his best outing of the year, allowing one run over six with seven strikeouts and no walks in a win over Pittsburgh. In 11 career appearances spanning 57.2 innings against the Orioles, Corbin is 1-6 with a 5.46 ERA. Pete Alonso has seen him by far the most of any Baltimore batter and is 19-for-52 (.365) with five homers. Toronto is 3-7 in its past 10 vs. the AL East.
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore impressively swept three games at home to open this week against what had been a red-hot Tampa Bay team with the Orioles winning each by multiple runs. They are 17-13 at Camden Yards compared to 10-16 away. However, one of the team’s top relievers in Yennier Cano was lifted from Wednesday’s win (team was off Thursday) with hamstring discomfort and is day-to-day. He’s 1-1 with a 1.86 ERA in 25 appearances. Former Blue Jays righty Chris Bassitt (4-3, 5.51 ERA), in his first season with Baltimore, takes the mound on Thursday. It is expected that he will start and not follow an opener, which is what Bassitt did last time out vs. Detroit. Bassitt got the win with 4.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs. The 37-year-old has been much better at home in 2026 at 3-1 with a 3.46 ERA in five appearances. Bassitt is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three career starts vs. Toronto, where he pitched from 2023-25. George Springer has had success off him at 8-for-20 with two homers and a double. The Orioles are 6-1 in their past seven at home.
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