Odds and Bets: Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah Plays with Pride

Milwaukee Brewers vs Toronto Blue Jays: Manoah Restores Pride

The Brewers and Blue Jays continue their three-game set on Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre. Toronto won on Tuesday 7-2. Who should start for Toronto but the man everyone is talking about lately – including on this week’s Pitch Clock – Alek Manoah.

His numbers aren’t good and he doesn’t last long when he starts. There is even chatter about him possibly being sent to the minors for a while. At least for now his place in the regular rotation and on the team is quite literally being questioned. Everyone knows he has it in him to put in good performances. He’s did so two years in a row, which is why the Jays have been in playoff contention. He’s at home against a team that doesn’t hit well. The Brewers are 25^th in collective batting average, 29^th in hits, and 26^th in RBI’s.

Best Bet: Blue Jays with the runline

New York Yankees vs Seattle Mariners: Aaron Judge Cools Off

In MLB’s late Wednesday slot is the series finale between the Yankees and Mariners in Seattle. New York have hammered the hosts twice already, winning 10-4 on Monday and 10-2 on Tuesday.

New York’s success so far has been boosted by usual suspect Aaron Judge. He’s clobbered three dingers already in two games, putting him at 18 on the season. For the series closer, the Mariners send George Kirby to the mound. The right-hander has a good ERA in 2023 with 3.43 in 63 innings of work. His last outing was a little rough (an 11-6 defeat to the Pirates) but overall he’s been consistent this season. Plus, after suffering a couple of horrible losses the Mariners as a team, at home, should play with some pride.

Best Bets: Mariners on the moneyline and Aaron Judge does NOT hit a home run

FA Cup Final : Manchester United vs Manchester City

The ultimate all-English match of the season is this Saturday’s FA Cup final between cross-town rivals Manchester United and Manchester City. Both clubs have accomplished a lot this year, although one of the two, City, is a significant -230 favourite. United are +478.

United entered the 2022-2023 under first-year manager Erik ten Hag with aspirations to make some noise and possibly return to European football. Done and done. They won the Carabao Cup in February and recently secured fourth place in the Premier League. City had even bigger dreams and are two games away from realizing them. They’ve already won the league, could win the FA Cup, and a week from Saturday can be crowned kings of Europe by defeating Inter Milan in the Champions League final. A treble would put them in rare air. In fact, one of the few clubs to ever accomplish the feat is…Manchester United in 1999. City have bigger fish to fry a week later. United don’t want to see their rivals earn what they are so famous for and will put out all the stops to win this.

Best Bet: Manchester United wins FA Cup