It’s Game 1 of the ALCS. One team is making its triumphant return just a year removed from its last ALDS win while the other makes its first pennant championship series appearance since 2007. I am of course talking about the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians, who will rely on Marco Estrada and Corey Kluber to get this series trending in the right direction for their respective teams.
- The Blue Jays are 7-2 in their last 9 games as a moneyline underdog of 123 or less.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the Indians' last 10 games with a closing total of 7.5 or less.
- The Blue Jays are 1-3 in their last 4 games on the road against the Indians.
The Tribe may have edged the Jays out in their season series but they are getting them in the American League Championship Series at the worst possible time. Toronto has been riding high since a dramatic walk-off win in the wild-card play-in game against the Orioles and has not lost a game since, scoring an average of seven runs per game in a sweep of the Rangers.
Estrada takes the mound tonight searching for the Jays’ fifth straight playoff win and for his second straight dominant pitching performance. He was brilliant in Toronto’s ALDS opener against the Rangers and was just two outs shy of posting his first career complete game. Since the Jays ditched the six-man rotation halfway through September, Estrada has allowed just three total runs in four starts.
Cleveland’s pitching staff is in a world of hurt right now so the pressure sits firmly on the capable shoulders of Kluber, who pitched seven innings of three-hit shutout baseball in the Indians’ 6-0 defeat of the Red Sox in his last appearance. If the Jays get to Kluber tonight, which they have this season, it could be curtains for Believeland.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Betting fans looking to pick the Cleveland Indians in this matchup found them as -145 favorites on the MLB money line at Sportsbook. Betting the over under instead? It was 8 at its open earlier today and hovering near that number at Sportsbook.
Odds Shark computer prediction handicapping models run on this game pick a 3.7-2.9 victory for the Blue Jays. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Cleveland Indians Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Cleveland Indians sport a record of 97-67 heading into this matchup, while the Toronto Blue Jays sit at 93-73 on the season Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Cleveland vs Toronto injuries news.
It's a MLB baseball betting matchup between the No. 13-rated Cleveland Indians and the league No. 11-ranked Toronto Blue Jays, according to the latest MLB power poll here at Odds Shark.
Statistical Matchup
When it comes to getting on base, the visiting Toronto Blue Jays rank No. 24 at 8.41 hits per game. That compares with the Cleveland Indians No. 8 ranking in that category.
Comparing defensive stats, Toronto owns the No. 1-rated road mark, allowing 3.7 runs per game on the highway. Cleveland, on the other hand, rates No. 3 in scoring at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Cleveland got the job done in their last match in a 4-3 victory over Boston on Monday at Fenway Park behind starter J Tomlin.
- Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Toronto's last 20 games
- Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- Cleveland is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
- Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- Cleveland is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
- Cleveland is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Toronto at Cleveland, Saturday, October 15th
