MLB Baseball Betting: Cleveland Indians at Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have won two straight and have pulled into a second place tie with the Boston Red Sox. They’ve got plenty of work to do if they’re going to catch first place Baltimore, however. The Orioles have gone on a tear since last weekend’s home series against the Jays–Baltimore has now won 7 straight and 8 of their last 10 and opened up a 5.5 game lead over the two second place teams. Things won’t get any easier for Toronto this weekend as they return home to the Rogers Centre to take on the AL Central leading Cleveland Indians who are the hottest team in baseball and carry the longest winning streak in the MLB so far this season–11 straight games–into Thursday’s contest.

Not a particularly favorable pitching matchup for Toronto either. The Indians will start right hander Carlos Carrasco who has been in excellent form this season. The Indians have won 7 of his 9 starts including 3 of 5 on the road. He’s got a 2.73 ERA overall and an even better 1.95 ERA and 0.866 WHIP on the road. He’s also got an impressive 31 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings pitched away from home. He’s been even better in his last three starts–two of which Cleveland won–posting a 1.61 ERA and 21 K’s in 22 1/3 innings of work. He’ll be opposed by knuckleballer R.A. Dickey who has been erratic at best this year and generally dismal at home this season. Toronto has yet to win when Dickey starts at the Rogers Centre (0-7 -8.5 units) and are 5-11 in his starts overall. He’s got a 4.23 ERA overall and a 5.36 ERA at home. Dickey does have decent career numbers against the Tribe with a 2.70 ERA but he hasn’t faced them since 9/2/15. He pitched a gem in his last start against Cleveland with a 4 hit complete game victory in a 5-1 Toronto win.

Just can’t buck the Indians in their current form and especially at this price. Don’t trust Dickey and just can’t take him over Cleveland’s Carrasco with the way each is pitching this season. Toronto does have a decent chance of earning a split in this series but I don’t see them getting the win here.

BET CLEVELAND INDIANS -115 OVER TORONTO BLUE JAYS