Odds and Bets: Blue Jays battle Baltimore

Today’s Sports Betting Picks – Thursday, June 15, 2023 

Blue Jays at Orioles: Battle of Baltimore

The Jays and Orioles finish up a three-game set in Baltimore on Thursday. Toronto’s 3-1 victory on Wednesday was their first win against Baltimore in five tries this season. It also snapped a five-game Orioles winning streak. Baltimore took the series opener 11-6 on Tuesday.

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi is on the mound for the Jays on Thursday. Kikuchi has a 6-2 record this season with a 4.34 ERA. He took the loss in a May 19 matchup against the Orioles and owns a 6.29 ERA in nine career starts against Baltimore.

Right-hander Tyler Wells will get the ball for the Orioles. Wells is 5-2 with a 3.24 ERA this season. He’s looking for his third straight victory after winning against San Francisco and Kansas City.

MLB best bet: Take Toronto at +1.5 on the runline (-175)

Stampeders at Redblacks: Home not-so-sweet Home

Nearly three-quarter of Sports Interaction bettors are riding with Calgary in this game and for good reason. The Redblacks have won just twice in their last 25 home games, an ugly stretch that dates back to 2019. Ottawa was 0-9 at home in 2022.

The Week 2 matchup between the Redblacks and Stampeders sees Calgary as a 4.5-point road favourite. Taking the road team has been the play over the last few years of head-to-heads between these teams. The road team has won five of the last six matchups, including four straight.

The Redblacks and Stamps both lost their season-openers in Week 1. Calgary dropped a 25-15 decision at home to Lions, while Ottawa fell 19-12 in Montreal.

In Week 1, Redblacks quarterback Nick Arbuckle started in place of Jeremiah Masoli, who is still working his way back from a leg injury suffered last season. Arbuckle went 19-for-35 for 176 passing yards and three interceptions. Despite the struggles, head coach Bob Dyce has already confirmed Arbuckle will start against Calgary.

The Stampeders’ offence also struggled in Week 1. Calgary amassed just 243 yards on 50 plays for 17 first downs. In his first full season as undisputed No. 1 quarterback, Jake Maier was 20-for-36 for 166 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception in Week 1.

With Thursday’s total hovering around 43.5, it’s worth noting six of the last seven games between these teams have finished below that number. In fact, these teams haven’t combined for 40 or more points in their last three meetings.

CFL best bet: Game total finishes Under 43.5 points (-110)

U.S. Open: Stick with Scottie

Before we begin, Nick Taylor deserves a special shoutout after draining a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to win the RBC Canadian Open last weekend, making him the first Canadian since 1954 to win the men’s national open.

Now, on to the U.S. Open. Scottie Scheffler looks primed for a big tournament. Scheffler has 12 top-10 finishes in 16 events this season, including two wins and one runner-up finish. He was runner-up at last year’s U.S. Open and over his last 24 rounds, Scheffler ranks first in Strokes Gained: Approach, second in second in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, first in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and first in Proximity from 175+ yards. Translation: Scheffler is hot right now.

Bonus shoutout to the security guard who trucked Adam Hadwin on the green during Taylor’s celebration last week. NFL training camps are just around the corner…

U.S. Open best bet: Scheffler to win the U.S. Open (+750)