Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies: Odds, Prediction
The Toronto Blue Jays are in a very tough spot on the schedule as they continue their road trip by opening a three-game series at NL Wild-Card contender Philadelphia on Friday night. The Phillies are -205 the MLB odds with a total of eight runs.
MLB Betting Odds and Trends
When Toronto’s game at Wrigley Field scheduled for June 21 was rained out, that was always going to come back and bite the Blue Jays in terms of a crammed slate for the rescheduled game on Thursday when it was supposed to be a day off. The team thus had to fly from Houston to Chicago late Wednesday and then from the Windy City to Philadelphia late Friday.
Philadelphia will not catch Atlanta in the NL East but is smack dab in the Senior Circuit’s Wild-Card chase sitting 62-54 and -800 for the playoffs. The Phillies made a big swing Monday by acquiring former three-time batting champion Luis Arraez along with reliever Caleb Killian from the Giants. Arraez is the majors’ best contact hitter, and that’s something the Phillies needed but now their defence is all jumbled. Arraez is playing second, moving Bryson Stott from there to third base, Alec Bohm from the hot corner to first and Bryce Harper from first to the outfield. The Phils are basically saying to heck with defence.
Toronto lost two of three to Philadelphia at Rogers Centre from June 8-10. Stott had a good series at 5-for-11 with three RBIs, while Harper was 3-for-9 with a homer and five runs scored. Last season, the Blue Jays were swept three games at Philly’s Citizens Bank Park, which hosted the 2026 All-Star Game.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto bullpen is very taxed because the team enters having played back-to-back extra-inning games, winning in 10 in Houston on Wednesday and then losing 3-2 in 11 in Chicago on Thursday.
That Cubs loss was crushing as closer Louis Varland allowed the game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and two strikes on batter Alex Bregman. Varland pitched in both those games, so he’s not going to be available on Friday.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hasn’t played since Tuesday due to a hamstring issue, and infielder Luis Urias was lifted from Thursday’s game with a quad injury.
Right-hander Jose Soriano, acquired from the Angels ahead of the trade deadline, makes his Toronto debut on Friday. Soriano (9-6, 3.29 ERA) had a 2.74 ERA in four July starts with his former club. He hasn’t allowed a home run in five straight outings. Soriano hasn’t faced the Phillies in 2026.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have won five of six, and we mentioned their acquisition of Luis Arraez above. He has fit in quite well with his new club, going 5-for-13 with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs while energizing the entire lineup from the cleanup spot. For example, the Phillies had eight doubles in Thursday’s win over Washington, their most in a game since Sept. 6, 2024.
Thursday’s victory improved Philadelphia improved to 47-18 this season when one of its Big 3 pitchers starts in Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler or Jesús Luzardo.
And it’s Wheeler (10-2, 2.49 ERA) on Friday. He might have a little extra on his fastball because Wheeler was limited to two scoreless innings last Sunday in Baltimore because of a weather delay. He is 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA and .188 opponents’ batting average at home this year. Wheeler took a no-decision in Toronto on June 9, allowing one run over six.
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