For the first time since 2019, the Toronto Blue Jays’ home opener will take place at home. Toronto hosts the Texas Rangers at the Rogers Center to kick off its most anticipated season in decades.
The pre-game narrative: Oddly enough, the Blue Jays have lost 10 straight home openers. The difference this year, however, is that Toronto now hopes to contend for the World Series. Marcus Semien returns to Toronto in a Rangers uniform, and the Blue Jays have plenty of new faces to show off.
Take a look at our Rangers vs. Blue Jays for Friday, April 8.
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Rangers vs. blue jays
- Blue Jays -1.5 runs, first five innings (+110)
- Toronto -1.5 (+105)
- Both teams to score three or more runs (-118)
Rangers vs. Picks blue jays
Best bet: Blue Jays -1.5 runs, first five innings (+110)
You may see a lot of top five (F5) recommendations from us this year after Toronto led MLB in F5 scoring a season ago (3.26 runs per game).
Between MVP runner-up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and rising stars Bo Bichette, George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez, there’s no escaping the top of this lineup.
Read more: Rangers vs. Rangers Accessory Picks blue jays
Last year, the Blue Jays led the Rangers by multiple runs at the F5 mark in all three games of a dominant sweep of Buffalo (Toronto’s temporary home in 2021). The accumulated score in that series was 25-2.
The Rangers’ additions of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager are sure to help, but this team only scored 2.10 runs per game in the first five innings last season (tied for 27th in the MLB). There are too many potential holes elsewhere in their lineup to expect them to keep up with the Blue Jays.
Texas right-hander Jon Gray won both of his starts against Toronto but hasn’t seen them since June 2019. Guerrero Jr. was five weeks into his major league career and Bichette hadn’t made his debut.
Gray, who has a 5.03 ERA the past two seasons, will have his hands full against a Blue Jays lineup deeper than ever.
Key stat: José Berríos had a 3.39 ERA in the first five innings last year, while Gray had a 4.27 mark in the same span.
Read more: How to bet on the Blue Jays
quick picks
Blue Jays -1.5 runs (+105): Once the Blue Jays get off to a good start, we like their chances to keep rolling. Toronto went 86-76 on the run last year, which was sixth in the majors. The Rangers, with a record of 74-88, ranked 24th in that regard. Toronto covered the scrimmage mark with ease in all three games it hosted Texas last season.
Both teams to score three or more runs (-118): Berríos is a solid shooter, but he produces a lot of stat lines that don’t break. In seven of his 12 starts with Toronto last year, Berrios gave up three runs or more. He’s particularly susceptible to damage from lefties, who produced a .789 OPS against him.
The Rangers could include five lefties in their lineup, including the ever-dangerous Seager, and find some production that way.
Odds courtesy of Sportingbet as of 11:20 am on 08/04/22.
Disclaimer This content was produced as part of a partnership and therefore may not meet the standards of impartial or independent journalism.
Reference-www.thestar.com