The Blue Jays are priced as -165 favourites on the MLB odds behind Kevin Gausman.

Reds vs. Jays Betting Analysis

In some ways, the Reds are the Baltimore Orioles Lite. In that we mean Cincinnati has some really good young position players led by shortstop Elly De La Cruz, a potential future NL MVP. There is no more entertaining player on the basepaths than the 22-year-old who leads the majors by far in steals with 59 and could become the first MLB player with at least 80 since Vince Coleman and future Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson both did in 1988. 

Totally different era then, which is what makes De La Cruz so unique in 2024. But the Reds like the Orioles are still a little shy on starting pitching. Cincinnati may not make the playoffs this season but is definitely a team to watch – especially if ownership actually spends a little money in the offseason. But it rarely does. 

Toronto lost two of three in Cincinnati last year, the Jays’ first trip there since 2014. Since interleague play began, the Blue Jays have lost just one of eight series against the Reds. 

Cincinnati Reds

Any realistic NL wild-card chances the Reds might have had probably disappeared over the weekend when they were swept three at home by Kansas City and outscored a combined 28-3. Manager David Bell most likely will not be back in 2025. Elly De La Cruz (21 homers) and Jeimer Candelario (20) are the first pair of Reds switch-hitters since 1900 to each hit 20 or more home runs in the same season. Cincinnati is the first team in MLB to have a pair of switch-hitters reach 20 homers in a season since the 2022 Mets. This was to be the turn in the rotation for young Reds ace righty Hunter Greene, who throws about as hard as anyone in the majors and has been arguably the best pitcher in it since the start of July. However, he was placed on the 15-day injured list over the weekend with elbow soreness. That’s obviously can be a major warning sign, and Greene had Tommy John surgery as a minor leaguer a handful of years ago. So in his spot it will be 23-year-old rookie Julian Aguiar apparently getting the call in his big-league debut. He was the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2023 when he was 8-5 with a 2.95 ERA across two levels. This year, he’s 5-4 with a 3.79 ERA in 22 starts spread across Double- and Triple-A. 

Toronto Blue Jays

Rookie shortstop Leo Jimenez injured his knee in the first inning of Saturday’s game at the Cubs and was removed, and he didn’t start Sunday so his status for Monday is up in the air. Ernie Clement started at short Sunday as the Blue Jays avoided a sweep with a 1-0 upset behind another strong effort from Bowden Francis and a homer from Joey Loperfido. Righty Kevin Gausman (11-8, 4.20 ERA) is scheduled on the mound Monday. He’s finally rounding into form as Gausman has pitched into the seventh inning in five of his last six starts and hasn’t personally lost since July 5. He blanked the Angels on six hits over seven innings last time out in Anaheim. Gausman has a 2.47 ERA in 12 road starts this year but is 4-5 with a 5.91 ERA in 12 starts at Rogers Centre. He pitched for the Reds in 2019 and is 1-3 with an 8.39 ERA in five career starts against his former club over 24.2 innings. Gausman last faced them in 2021 while with the Giants. Ty France has seen him more than any Reds player and is 5-for-15 with a double. Jeimer Candelario is 3-for-5 with a solo homer. 

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