Toronto Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles: Odds, Prediction
For the Game 1 matinee at Camden Yards, the Orioles are solid favourites on the MLB odds.
Betting Analysis
It’s always smart to wait and see starting lineups before betting an MLB game, but it’s especially so in a doubleheader because not every regular will always play both ends – especially at catcher. Also keep in mind that the trade deadline is Tuesday so some guys who might be on the verge of being dealt could be held out across the league Monday.
Baltimore absolutely is in buyer mode under new ownership and with a legitimate chance to win the franchise’s first World Series since 1983 – the last time the franchise was in the Fall Classic. Most have the Orioles targeting starting pitching. Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi could be a possibility, but the O’s generally are aiming higher for someone like the White Sox’s Garrett Crochet. Baltimore has been totally gutted this year by season-ending injuries in the rotation.
These teams split six games in the first half of the season and split two 3-2 results at Camden Yards in mid-May. It was to be a three-game set, but the May 14 matchup was rained out and that’s why the doubleheader here. Justin Turner is 6-for-13 off O’s pitching this year and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 7-for-20 with two homer and four RBIs.
Toronto Blue Jays
It’s Toronto’s first road game since the break and the Jays are 23-28 away. They traded away three guys over the weekend in catcher Danny Jansen to Boston, reliever Nate Pearson to the Chicago Cubs and reliever Yimi Garcia to Seattle. Jansen and Garcia are free agents at the end of the season and any other guys who are on the Toronto roster and have trade value likely are gone by Tuesday’s deadline as well. Brian Serven will now serve as the No. 2 catcher behind Alejandro Kirk.
It’s rookie Yariel Rodriguez (1-3, 3.69 ERA) on the hill Monday for Game 1 – keep in mind that the Jays and Orioles will both be able to add a 27th player to the roster for the doubleheader. He took a no-decision last Wednesday at home vs. Tampa Bay, allowing two runs over 5.2 innings. This month, Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 2.01 ERA but he has struggled on the road overall, going 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA in five starts. It’s his first career outing vs. Baltimore.
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore has already been busy ahead of the trade deadline in shipping outfielder Austin Hays, a 2023 All-Star but having a down season offensively, to Philadelphia for outfielder Cristian Pache and reliever Seranthony Dominquez and landing starting pitcher Zach Eflin from Tampa Bay for prospects. The O’s probably aren’t done.
Eflin (5-7, 4.09 ERA) is expected to make his Orioles debut this afternoon. His overall numbers are fairly mediocre, but Eflin does have tremendous control with only 13 walks in his 110 innings this year. His final Rays start was last Wednesday in Toronto when Eflin allowed two runs over 5.2 innings of a no-decision. He is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in 17.1 innings against the Jays in 2024. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits him well career, going 6-for-16 with two homers and a double. George Springer is 3-for-10 with a homer off him.
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