Toronto Blue Jays vs. Washington Nationals: Odds, Prediction
Thus, the Jays are -180 favourites on the MLB odds.
Bet on Blue Jays vs. Nationals
Jays vs. Nationals May 3 Betting Analysis
Note that this is an Apple TV+ exclusive streaming game. Washington is still likely at least a couple of years from returning to playoff contention, but the Nationals have some solid young building blocks such as second baseman Luis Garcia, shortstop CJ Abrams and pitcher Mackenzie Gore among a few others.
Since the Nats won the franchise’s first and only World Series title in 2019, they have not finished with a winning record. Some of that was trading away big-name and expensive talent such as All-Stars Max Scherzer and Juan Soto and some was simply bad luck. Pitcher Stephen Strasburg was the 2019 World Series MVP and a legitimate ace when healthy, but the former No. 1 overall pick just couldn’t stay that way. After 2019, Strasburg made just eight big-league appearances (not since 2022) and finally retired earlier this year after reaching a settlement with the team.
Dave Martinez, who played for both the Blue Jays and Expos way back when (among many other teams), is one of the longer-tenured mangers in the majors as he has been with the Nationals since 2018. Toronto hosted Washington for three games last season and won two of them. The Jays were last in Washington, D.C. in 2021 and lost both games.
Toronto Blue Jays
After winning 6-5 in Kansas City on Monday, the Toronto offence scored just one run in losing the next two, although they did face two excellent starting pitchers in Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo. Still, that lineup is not producing most nights. The Jays are hitting just .227 on the season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. does have a five-game hit streak going but is batting only .231 with three homers and 11 RBIs. He hasn’t gone yard since April 10. That lineup generally goes Guerrero Jr. he goes. Toronto does rank second in the AL in batter walks. It’s lefty Yusei Kikuchi (2-2, 2.94 ERA) on the mound Friday. He allowed a season-high four runs and nine hits last time out over six innings in a loss to the Dodgers. That snapped his streak of three straight quality starts. The Dodgers can do that to any pitcher. This will be Kikuchi’s first career start against Washington. Two Nats have seen him while playing elsewhere with Eddie Rosario 0-for-6 and Jesse Winker 1-for-2 with a double.
Washington Nationals
Washington was lucky to only lose two of three at defending World Series champion Texas this week considering the Nationals scored two total runs – their lone win was 1-0 on Wednesday. Then Washington was blanked for the second time this season on Thursday. The Nationals (15-16) failed to move above .500 for the first time since July 1, 2021. The Nats will run wild if given the chance as they are second in MLB with 53 steals. In the bullpen, Kyle Finnegan is tied for first in MLB with 10 saves and has a miniscule .136 opponents’ batting average. Finnegan has allowed one base-runner over his last eight outings with a win and six converted saves. It’s lefty Patrick Corbin (0-3, 6.82 ERA) on the mound and going back to since probably 2021, it’s a betting holiday when he pitches because you fade and win. Corbin, 34, was a very good pitcher early in his career. The only reason he hasn’t been cut is that he is earning $35 million in 2024. Thankfully for the Nats, it’s the final year of his deal. Corbin is 1-2 with a 5.82 ERA in three career starts vs. the Jays. Justin Turner has seen him by far the most of any Toronto batter and is hitting .381 with four doubles and two homers in 42 at-bats.
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