The Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays will close down a three-game series at Sahlen Field in Buffalo this Thursday afternoon, so I’ve prepared the best Mariners vs. Blue Jays betting pick along with the latest odds update on DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Blue Jays beat the Mariners in the opener last Tuesday, 9-3, bringing us some easy money, while the clash went in the over of a 10.5-run line. Toronto was a firm -235 home fave for Wednesday’s middle contest, and the Blue Jays opened at -195 for Thursday’s closer.
The Mariners hope to get back on the right track
The Seattle Mariners fell to 41-39 on the season following that 9-3 defeat at Sahlen Field. It was their second loss on the spin and only fourth over the Mariners’ previous 14 outings at any location. Seattle was sitting at the third spot of the AL West on Wednesday, trailing seven games behind the Astros and 5.5 behind the Athletics.
The Mariners are scoring just 4.05 runs per game on a .217/.291/.379 slash line. However, over the last two weeks, they’ve recorded a .240 batting average and a .711 OPS. On the other side of the ball, the Mariners sport a 4.48 ERA, and over their last 11 outings, the Mariners have registered a 4.27 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
Yusei Kikuchi will take the mound Thursday, and the 27-year-old southpaw hasn’t been charged for a loss in six straight starts, going 4-0 in the process. He’s 5-3 on the season, sporting a solid 3.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 87/30 K/BB ratio across 86.1 frames of work.
The Blue Jays continue with a strong performance at the plate
The Toronto Blue Jays extended their win streak to three games with a 9-3 dismantling off the Mariners on Tuesday. It was their eighth win in the last nine games, and the Blue Jays improved to 41-36 on the season, still holding the third spot in the AL East.
Toronto continues with a strong offensive performance in 2021, and over the last two weeks, the Blue Jays have scored 69 runs through 12 games while slashing .285/.348/.468. They’ve smacked 15 home runs and 30 doubles in that span, and the Blue Jays were tied with the Giants for the most dingers in baseball on Wednesday (116).
Hyun-Jin Ryu will take the hill Thursday, and the 34-year-old lefty hasn’t been sharp lately. He’s yielded three or more runs in each but one of his previous five starts, though Ryu will search for his third straight victory Thursday when he meets the Mariners. Hyun-Jin is 7-4 in 15 starts this term, sporting a 3.41 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 72/19 K/BB ratio through 89.2 innings of work.
Trends:
Seattle:
- 9-16 in the last 25 games against Toronto
- 9-20 in the last 29 games on the road
Toronto:
- 8-1 in the last nine games overall
- 7-1 in the last eight outings as favorites
Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays Pick:
Yusei Kikuchi won his lone career start against Toronto, but it was in 2019, and this Toronto team is something different. The Japanese star will have a tall task to outlast one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, and I’m backing the Blue Jays’ bats to dominate at the plate once more.
Hyun-Jin Ryu has struggled as of late, but the Blue Jays bullpen has been solid over the last few weeks. Toronto has registered a 3.50 ERA through its last 12 contests, while the Mariners’ pitching staff has posted a 4.27 ERA over its previous 11 games. Furthermore, the Mariners’ relievers recorded a poor 5.47 ERA in June.
MLB Picks: Take Toronto Blue Jays at -195
Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays Total:
I think betting on the Blue Jays to win is a better option than going with the totals despite the lower wages. Wagering on the over is the only logical choice when the Blue Jays are playing, especially at Sahlen Field that is quite a hitter-friendly ballpark.
Still, five of their last ten contests produced fewer than ten runs in total. It’s the same story with the Mariners’ last ten showings overall, while the over is 7-5 in the last 12 encounters between Seattle and Toronto.
Pick: Go over 9.5 runs at -105