Toronto starts a six-game homestand in which it should be favoured on the MLB odds in each game by welcoming the Seattle Mariners to Rogers Centre for their lone visit of the season. The Jays are -155 favourites to win Monday’s opener.

Betting Analysis

Are you aware the longest playoff drought in Major League Baseball, the NBA, NHL and NFL belongs to the Seattle Mariners? It’s not even that close. The team last made it in 2001 when it won an MLB-record 116 games behind Rookie of the Year and AL MVP Ichiro Suzuki. That team lost in the ALCS to the Yankees, and Seattle has never reached the World Series.

Seattle probably won’t make it to the Fall Classic this year, either, but a wild-card spot is possible with some good young talent led by outfielder and potential AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez. The Mariners’ big offseason acquisition was luring 2021 AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray from the Blue Jays in free agency, but he will not pitch in this series.

The Mariners won four of six against the Jays last year. Toronto’s home games were in Buffalo. On Sunday, Seattle manager Scott Servais said “a couple players” won’t make the trip to Toronto because of the Canadian government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Servais didn’t say who.

Seattle Mariners

Seattle impressively won two of three at the New York Mets over the weekend, with Ray getting the W in Sunday’s 8-7 victory, although the bullpen nearly blew it in the bottom of the ninth. It was the Mariners’ first road series win of the season. Rodriguez above and he was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. He’s among the fastest players in the majors and is tied for the big-league lead with 10 stolen bases. Two Seattle regulars, outfielder Mitch Haniger and catcher Tom Murphy, are on the injured list.

It’s right-hander Chris Flexen (1-5, 4.24 ERA) on the mound Monday. He had been quite solid this year until last time out when he was lit up for six runs and nine hits over five innings by the Phillies. Flexen has had seven starts of at least seven innings pitched and no more than one run allowed since the start of 2021, most in the AL during that span. He is 0-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two career starts vs. the Jays. Matt Chapman has faced him the most of any Toronto player, going 3-for-11 with a solo homer and five Ks. Seattle is 7-12 on the road.

Toronto Blue Jays

Perhaps a return home will awaken a stagnant Blue Jays offence that has scored more than three runs only twice in losing six of seven. They were blanked 3-0 at Tampa Bay on Sunday. George Springer was back in the lineup after missing Saturday with an ankle sprain but was 0-for-4. Catcher Danny Jansen returned from the injured list Saturday and homered but got Sunday off. Jansen has homered in all three games with an at-bat this season and has six home runs in his last eight games dating to last year.

When Toronto lost Ray to Seattle in free agency, the Jays responded by signing Mariners lefty Yusei Kikuchi (1-1, 4.15 ERA) and he faces his former team for the first time. Kikuchi comes off a no-decision vs. the Yankees, allowing two earned over 5.1 innings. A few Mariners have faced him while with other teams. Leading Seattle hitter Ty France is 1-for-2 with a double off Kikuchi. The Jays are 10-6 at home.

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