Toronto Blue Jays vs Minnesota Twins

The Toronto Blue Jays (26-25) are 4-2 SU in their last six road games against the Minnesota Twins (26-24). The Blue Jays will try to pick up another road win over the Twins in the first game of a three-game series this Friday night in Minnesota.

Toronto is just 1-7 SU over its last eight games after losing three of four games on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays this week. The Twins have also been struggling of late with a 2-5 SU record in their last seven games. The OVER is 6-0 in Toronto’s last six games and 6-1 in the last seven games between the Blue Jays and the Twins.

Starting Pitcher Report: Blue Jays

Kevin Gausman pitched eight innings last Sunday in Toronto’s 8-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in extra innings. Gausman allowed six hits and two earned runs before leaving the game when it was tied 2-2 heading into the ninth. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 3.14 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched this season.

Toronto is 0-4 SU in Gausman’s last four starts after opening the year with a 4-2 SU record in his first six starts. Gausman has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his 10 starts this season, but he has also given up eight runs twice.

Starting Pitcher Report: Twins

Louie Varland allowed six hits and two earned runs in five innings pitched last Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. The Twins came away with a 6-2 victory in that one as Varland improved to 2-0 on the season. The 25-year-old has made five starts for the Twins in 2023 and has compiled a 4.18 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched.

Minnesota is 3-2 SU in the five games that Varland has taken the hill in this season. Varland has started two games at home this season and has a 2.92 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in those two starts.

Blue Jays Player Prop: George Springer Over 1.5 Hits (+186)

George Springer was batting .219 on the season back on May 13. Since then, Springer has collected two or more hits in six of the 11 games that he has started, bringing his batting average up to .250 in the process. That run includes a 4-for-5 day with a home run in the Blue Jays’ 20-1 win over the Rays on Tuesday.

Springer had recorded two or more hits in four of his previous five games before going 0-for-4 on Wednesday and 0-for-0 with a pinch-hit walk on Thursday. The veteran right fielder is worth consideration at this price given how well he has been hitting the ball recently.

Twins Player Prop: Louie Varland Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+131)

Louie Varland had only four strikeouts in Minnesota’s 6-2 win over the Angels on Saturday. That was the first time this season that Varland has failed to record at least six strikeouts in a game. Varland has struck out 31 batters in 28 innings with the Twins and 25 batters in 15 innings pitched in the minor leagues this season.

Toronto’s offense hasn’t been performing well in recent weeks with three runs or fewer scored in seven of the team’s last 10 games. If that trend continues on Friday night, Varland could take advantage with six strikeouts or more at home.