Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction

Payton Matthews | Updated Apr 07, 2024

MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees

It's the Toronto Blue Jays' home opener on Monday night as they open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.

Seattle
85-77
AT
April 08, 2024, 7:07 PM ET
Rogers Centre
Toronto
74-88
Runline +1.5 -210
Runline -1.5 +160

The Blue Jays’ home opener finally arrives Monday night as All-Star Julio Rodriguez and Seattle Mariners visit Rogers Centre for the only time this season to open a three-game set.

Toronto is a -125 favourite to win on the MLB odds for Monday.

Betting Analysis

Last season, the Blue Jays began on a lengthy road trip due to renovations to Rogers Centre. This year, the team’s 10-game opening trip through St. Petersburg, Houston and New York was more of the same, but at least it’s out of the way now and the Blue Jays fared relatively well all things considered with a 4-6 record.

Are you aware that Seattle is the only active MLB franchise to never reach a World Series? Will it happen this year? The rotation is among the best in baseball – former Blue Jays Cy Young winner Robbie Ray is working his way back from Tommy John surgery and not likely ready until midseason — and the M’s have arguably a Top 5 overall talent in outfielder Julio Rodriguez but probably don’t have enough offence as things stand to win the AL pennant barring a trade addition.

Seattle ended the majors’ longest playoff drought in 2022 and swept Toronto in the Wild Card round but just missed out on the postseason in 2023. The Mariners certainly could be a playoff team again in 2024.

These teams split in 2023, each going 2-1 at home. Rodriguez, who played in five of the six, hit .294 with a solo homer and two stolen bases.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners were without a few regulars on Sunday as they were blown out in Milwaukee to drop two of three in that series – Seattle is yet to win a series, going 0-2-1. First baseman Ty France has been on the paternity list but will rejoin the team in Toronto and expected in the lineup Monday. Not many Mariners are hitting yet, but France is batting .320 with three runs scored. Closer Andres Munoz has been a little shaky in the early going with a 4.91 ERA.

Ace right-hander Luis Castillo is on the hill Monday. He is among the early AL Cy Young betting favourites but hasn’t pitched much like it yet at 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.78 WHIP. You may remember Castillo pitched in Toronto in the Wild Card round following the 2022 season and threw 7.1 shutout innings in a Game 1 victory. Castillo faced the Jays once last season, also at Rogers Centre, and allowed two runs over five in a no-decision. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 0-for-8 carer off him. Alejandro Kirk is 3-for-5 with a homer.

Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto’s pitching went south in the final two games over the weekend at Yankee Stadium in allowing a combined 17 runs after shutting out the Bombers in Friday’s series-opening victory. Justin Turner, who is off to a solid start at .285 with a homer and six RBIs, got Sunday off. The Jays have yet to win one of their first three series, going 0-2-1 like Seattle.

Veteran right-hander Jose Berrios (1-0, 2.25 ERA) is on the mound Monday. He has had a quality start in both outings this season – which is encouraging because Berrios was a fair amount worse on the road last year compared to home, where he was 6-6 with a 3.30 ERA. Berrios has made seven career starts vs. Seattle and has a 3.27 ERA in 44 innings with 45 strikeouts. He last saw the Mariners in May 2022 and threw seven shutout innings. M’s star Julio Rodriguez is 2-for-3 career off him.

MLB Prediction: Who Will Win Mariners vs. Blue Jays?

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