The Toronto Blue Jays are basically the definition of “meh” this season. The Jays entered the year with extremely high expectations and currently sit six games under .500. One of their biggest issues has been their slow starts in series, as the Jays are 1-9 SU and 0-10 against the runline in their past 10 series openers. Toronto opens its final series before the all-star break against the Houston Astros on Thursday.
- The Astros are 20-3 in their past 23 games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the Astros' last 7 games against the Blue Jays.
- The Astros are 7-0 SU and ATS in their last 7 games as road favorites.
Francisco Liriano will take the bump for the Jays coming off back-to-back outings of six-plus innings for the first time this season. That hasn’t really meant much in the grand scheme of things, as the lefty has surrendered 13 hits and seven earned runs in that span. The one positive for the Jays is that Liriano has been better at home with a 4.62 ERA in Toronto compared to 7.20 on the road.
Countering Liriano for the Astros will be all-star Lance McCullers. The 23-year-old has been dominant over the past couple of months, going 8-2 with a 1.85 ERA and a 67/16 K/BB ratio since the start of June. To make matters worse for a struggling Jays offense, McCullers has not allowed more than three earned runs in a game since April 26.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Those betting on the visitors in this one found the Houston Astros listed as favorites of -146 at most sportsbooks, including Sportsbook. Total bettors saw the number open in the area of 9, check for odds updates at Sportsbook.
Prediction-scoring formulas run on this game pick a potential 8.0-2.8 result in favor of the Astros. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Houston Astros vs Toronto Blue Jays Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Toronto (39-45) will face the 58-27 Astros in this tilt. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Toronto vs Houston injuries news.
The Toronto Blue Jays vs Houston Astros odds would favor the Astros if the betting lines were set according to our power ranks. Toronto is rated No. 26 in the current OddsShark poll, while Houston is at No. 6.
Statistical Matchup
Rating these teams in several key categories is important for handicappers and Toronto has baseball's No. 26-rated offensive output, at 8.23 hits per game. The Houston Astros average 10 hits per game, good for No. 1 on the list.
Houston brings the No. 4-rated defense to this matchup, facing the Blue Jays's No. 16-ranked defense.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Astros grabbed a win last time out, defeating Jaime Garcia and the Braves 10-4 on Wednesday at SunTrust Park.
Toronto picked up a 7-6 win against New York on Wednesday, as the Blue Jays' bats led the team to victory at Yankee Stadium.
Next Betting Matchups
Houston at Toronto, Friday, July 7
