Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
The Dodgers opened as -130 favourites to win on the MLB odds.
Betting Analysis
This is arguably the biggest home series of the year for the Blue Jays and will be their only matchup with the absolutely loaded Los Angeles Dodgers barring in the 2024 World Series. The Dodgers are favourites to win that even if they haven’t been quite the dominant club everyone expected thus far.
The Dodgers have a massive local TV deal and sell out nearly every home game, so they can outspend essentially every team in baseball if need be and did this summer by signing two free agents in former two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani of the Angels and the top pitching free agent out of Japan in Yoshinobu Yamamoto for a combined $1 billion (US) or so. The Jays won’t see the latter as Yamamoto pitched Thursday, but by all accounts Toronto finished runner-up in the Ohtani chase this winter. He got a record $700 million from the Dodgers, but the vast majority of it deferred. A reminder that Ohtani will only be a designated hitter in 2024 but fully plans to resume pitching as well next season. Ohtani is off to a roaring start at .358 with six homers, 16 RBI and a 1.089 OPS.
The Blue Jays visited Dodger Stadium last season for three games and won two. This will be LA’s first trip to Toronto since 2016. The Dodgers lead all-time 15-9.
Los Angeles Dodgers
One of the LA’s top prospects is outfielder Andy Pages, and he’s with the big club right now thanks to an injury to Jason Heyward. Pages has been hitting well in limited action and might be in the Show to stay. If there is a weak link in the Dodgers’ rotation right now, it’s righty Gavin Stone and he’s on the mound Friday. He retained rookie status despite debuting in 2023 as Stone only pitched 31 innings last year and was 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA. The 25-year-old is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in four starts this year after lasting just 3.1 innings last time out vs. the Mets, walking five in a no-decision. Control issues led Stone to throw 72 pitches in recording just 10 outs. With fellow pitchers Walker Buehler (elbow) and Bobby Miller (shoulder) closing in on returns from the injured list, Stone’s time in the rotation may be coming to a close soon. The only Blue Jays batter to have faced him is former long-time Dodger Justin Turner, who is 1-for-2 with a solo homer. Those at-bats came last year while Turner was with Boston.
Toronto Blue Jays
Catcher Danny Jansen and second baseman Cavan Biggio both got Thursday’s series finale in Kansas City off from the starting lineup but simply for rest/pitching matchup reasons. Before the game, the team put reliever Bowden Francis on the injured list and recalled fellow pitcher Brendon Little from Triple-A Buffalo.
Veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt (2-3, 3.90) is on the hill for Toronto. He continued his shaky pitching on the road this season last Sunday in allowing four runs over 5.1 innings off a loss in San Diego. At home, the 35-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts. Bassitt has made four career starts vs. the Dodgers and is 1-2 with a 4.30 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 23 innings. Shohei Ohtani has faced more than any other Dodgers batter (but all with the Angels) and is 5-for-25 with a double, triple and homer but 11 strikeouts. Mookie Betts, leading the majors with a .374 average, is 2-for-13 off Bassitt.