Atlanta Braves vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
Atlanta Braves, rather hot these days, are -150 favourites on the MLB odds for Game 1 of the series behind ace Spencer Strider.
Betting Analysis
Atlanta is absolutely stacked again this season and easily could win its second World Series in three seasons. The Braves are +461 to do so with Toronto at +907. On the flip side, two Atlanta starting pitchers, Max Fried and Kyle Wright, could each miss at least two months due to recent injury. Atlanta five-tool outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is the +226 leader to win his first NL MVP Award after winning NL Player of the Month for April. He hasn’t slowed down at all in May.
What should scare the rest of the National League is that the Braves probably are going to be contenders for the rest of the decade at least with Acuna, pitcher Spencer Strider and other key young players already locked up long-term.
The Jays and Braves haven’t met since the 2021 regular season when Toronto won all six matches. The Jays don’t visit Atlanta this year.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves closed a five-game homestand at 3-2 following Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to Boston and then were off Thursday. Closer Raisel Iglesias gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning (the ninth) in his third appearance since coming off the injured list. Catcher Travis d’Arnaud, an All-Star in 2022, played for the first time Wednesday since a concussion he suffered on April 8. He was 1-for-3 with a walk.
Right-hander Spencer Strider, who finished second to outfielder teammate Michael Harris for 2022 NL Rookie of the Year, is the +250 leader for the NL Cy Young and is on the mound Friday. Strider (4-0, 2.70 ERA, 0.93 WHIP) has lasted only five innings the past two times out because of elevated pitch counts. He has struck out at least eight batters in each start and is tied with the Jays’ Kevin Gausman for the MLB strikeout lead with 67. Strider has never faced Toronto. Daulton Varsho is 0-for-2 off him with a walk. Atlanta is 8-2 in its past 10 interleague road games.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto closed a nine-game trip at 3-6 with a 2-1 loss in 10 innings at Philadelphia on Wednesday as Jordan Romano blew the save in the bottom of the ninth and then Philly won it in the 10th on Bo Bichette’s throwing error. Outfielder George Springer was not in the lineup due to illness but was available to pinch-hit and with Thursday off should play Friday.
Chris Bassitt (4-2, 4.28 ERA) takes the hill. He shut out the Pirates on four hits over seven last time out in a victory. He has faced the Braves three times previously, all last year with the Mets, and was 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA. Austin Riley is 3-for-7 off him with a homer. Bridget Carleton, a Canadian WNBA player for the Minnesota Lynx, will throw out Friday’s ceremonial first pitch on the eve of the first-ever WNBA Canada Game on Saturday, hosted at Scotiabank Arena and featuring the Lynx against the Chicago Sky in a preseason matchup. Could be smaller attendance than normal Friday considering this is opposite of Game 5 of the NHL’s East semifinals between the Panthers and Maple Leafs also from Scotiabank Arena.
ATL
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