New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
The Yanks opened as very short favourites for the opener on the MLB odds.
Yankees vs. Jays Betting Analysis
We can only speculate about whether someone is vaccinated for COVID because it’s obviously private personal information. That said, there have been many hints that two of the Yankees’ best players, Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo, were not vaccinated. That of course would have meant they couldn’t play any games in Toronto, a huge competitive disadvantage for New York. There have since been reports, though, that anyone on the team who wasn’t vaccinated now is. We will find out Monday.
The Jays and Yankees split four games in New York from April 11-14 – one team was shut out in three of the four games. Toronto hit only .206 in the series and scored nine runs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three homers and four RBIs but all in one game. George Springer had a solid series, batting 6-for-18 with a homer and four RBIs.
New York hit .234 in the series and scored 11 runs. Judge was 4-for-15 with a solo homer and Rizzo 3-for-14 with a solo shot.
New York Yankees
New York enters on a nine-game winning streak, the longest in the majors this season. It’s only the fourth time since 1959 that the Yanks have won at least 16 of their first 22 games. Aaron Judge is red hot as he homered twice in Sunday’s victory at Kansas City and has gone yard in three straight games (sat out Saturday). Closer Aroldis Chapman has converted 20 consecutive saves dating to last season but probably won’t be available Monday as he pitched both Saturday and Sunday. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery (0-1, 2.70 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound. He comes off a no-decision vs. Baltimore, allowing two runs over 5.2 innings with four strikeouts. That’s generally a typical line for Montgomery. He missed the Blue Jays in the first series and is 2-1 with a 4.03 ERA in 38 career innings against them. Bo Bichette hammers him, going 4-for-8 with two homers, a double and seven RBIs. Santiago Espinal is 4-for-6 off him and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 3-for-7 with a homer. New York is 4-0 in its past four series openers.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays rallied to beat Houston 3-2 on Sunday and are 6-0-1 in series this season – the seven undefeated series to open a year ties the franchise record set in 1992. Toronto has played 11 one-run games and has won nine, the most such in MLB. Bo Bichette hit a two-run homer Sunday and all three of his homers this year have either tied the game or given the Jays the lead. Veteran right-hander Ross Stripling (0-0, 3.60 ERA) is scheduled for Toronto. He’s probably a five-inning pitcher at best and went that long last Wednesday vs. Boston, allowing one run and five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in no-decision. Stripling didn’t face the Yankees in the first series and is 0-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 20 career innings against them. DJ LeMahieu has seen him the most, going 7-for-22 – all singles. Giancarlo Stanton is 2-for-7 with a double and home run. The Blue Jays are 5-1 in their past six vs. AL East teams.
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