Toronto Blue Jays vs. Minnesota Twins: Odds, Prediction
The Blue Jays start a seven-game road trip on Thursday night by opening a four-game set in the Twin Cities against a rebuilding Minnesota Twins team. Toronto is a-135 favourite on the MLB odds with a total of eight runs.
Betting Analysis
The Twins started a rebuild last year by dealing away several key guys ahead of the trade deadline, although some of them were pending free agents. The team also fired manager Rocco Baldelli after the season and replaced him with former Pittsburgh Pirates skipper Derek Shelton. He was the first hire in franchise history with previous experience as a major league manager but also was the bench coach for the Twins in 2018 and 2019 under two managers, Paul Molitor and Baldelli.
Minnesota has probably overachieved a bit so far, decent at home (8-8) but terrible away. But no doubt the franchise should be a seller at another trade deadline. This set concludes the season series as the Twins surprisingly took two of three in Toronto from April 10-12 with all three games high scoring.
Shortstop Brooks Lee had a good series for the Twins at 4-for-12 with two homers, a double and four RBIs, but former All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton was only 1-for-10 with four strikeouts. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (6-for-12, two doubles), Ernie Clement (6-for-13, two doubles) and Daulton Varsho (6-for-14, two homers and two doubles) had strong series for the Jays.
Toronto was 2-1 at Target Field in 2025.
Toronto Blue Jays
George Springer should return to the starting lineup Thursday after the usual leadoff hitter was activated off the injured list ahead of Wednesday’s 8-1 home win over Boston.
The Jays opted not to start Springer, but he eventually entered as a pinch-hitter and then the DH and was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Eloy Jimenez was designated for assignment to open a roster spot.
Rookie third baseman Kazuma Okamoto had another solid game Wednesday with a two-run single in the bottom of the first. In Okamoto’s past 10 games, he has hit three home runs and driven in 10.
Right-hander Kevin Gausman is scheduled to take the mound Thursday, and the 35-year-old has been very good at 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 35.0 innings. Gausman has finally gotten some run support of late, and the Blue Jays have won his past three. He has started six times in 2026 and four have been quality.
Gausman missed the Twins in the first series and is a brutal 1-5 with a 6.43 ERA in 14 career starts against them. That’s a surprise with Gausman’s only worse career ERA of 7.89 coming in six starts vs. the Cincinnati Reds.
Minnesota Twins
Minnesota has two wins in its past 13 (four straight series defeats) following a 5-3 home loss to Seattle on Wednesday. The Twins have a lot of problems and the bullpen is one. Closer Eric Orze blew his second save of the year by allowing three runs three runs on two hits and two walks in the top of the ninth, getting just one out before being pulled. Bailer
Ober, 30, has spent his entire MLB career with the Twins and is due to start Thursday. The right-hander has always been a pretty solid back-of-the-rotation guy who will eat innings and is 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in six starts this year – better at home, going 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA.
Ober missed the Jays in the earlier series and is 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA in seven career starts against them. George Springer has had some success off him at 6-for-17 with three solo homers and a double, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is only 1-for-11 with four Ks vs. Ober.
