Baltimore Orioles vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
Toronto opened as a -150 favourite on the MLB odds behind lefty Yusei Kikuchi.
Orioles vs. Jays May 19 Betting Analysis
This is the only visit to Toronto by the Orioles before the All-Star break. The Jays go to Baltimore from June 13-15. The O’s took a major step forward last year in finishing 83-79 and three games out of the AL’s final wild card spot, and Baltimore is certainly good enough to reach the postseason this year for the first time since 2016. The lineup is fine, but it remains to be seen if previously penny-pinching ownership will allow the front office to spend money around the trade deadline to upgrade the rotation, which probably is necessary to have any sort of playoff run.
Toronto has won the season series five straight years — it was 10-9 last year and 5-5 at Rogers Centre. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit .329 in the series with six homers and 15 RBIs, and Bo Bichette .315 with six dingers and 15 knocked in. Adley Rutschman, one of the top young players in baseball, hit .344 with four homers and 13 RBIs, and Ryan Mountcastle batted .313 with five home runs and 17 knocked in for the Orioles.
Baltimore Orioles
Friday is Baltimore’s first road game since May 7 and it is 13-8 away from Camden Yards. The Orioles come off a 6-5 loss on Thursday to the Angels, blowing a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning. Baltimore had been 24-2 when leading after seven innings. Excellent young catcher Adley Rutschman hit a monster homer in the loss (playing at DH) and has hit safely in eight straight starts since May 9, slashing .357/.471/.750 in those games. Anthony Santander also homered and is slashing.339/.406/.645 this month. This team can hit for sure. Veteran right-hander Kyle Gibson (4-3, 4.67), in his first year with the team, is on the mound Friday. This month, he’s 0-3 with a 6.11 ERA in three starts. Gibson has made 11 career starts against Toronto and is 5-2 with a 4.81 ERA. George Springer has struggled vs. Gibson, going 2-for-16 with five Ks. Matt Chapman is 2-for-15 with six Ks. The Orioles are 19-7 in their past 26 Friday games.
Toronto Blue Jays
Will Vladimir Guerrero Jr. play Friday? He hasn’t started since Tuesday due to a knee injury that required an MRI but came back clean. He participated in batting practice and did some running Thursday and then pinch hit in the loss to New York, so perhaps Guerrero can at least DH. Red-hot Kevin Kiermaier sat Thursday against the Yankees due to illness. Kiermaier is thought of more as a good defensive player than hitter but is batting .425 this month. It’s lefty Yusei Kikuchi (5-0, 3.89 ERA) on the mound Friday. Perhaps some concern as two of his past three outings have not been good. Kikuchi is 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA at home. In eight career games vs. Baltimore, he has an ugly 6.37 ERA over 29.2 innings with most of that coming last year when his ERA against the Orioles was 8.10. Ryan Mountcastle hits him well, going 4-for-9 with a double and three home runs. Jorge Mateo is 4-for-9 off Kikuchi with a double and triple. The Jays are 6-0 in their past six Friday games.
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