MLB Baseball Betting: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

The big weekend series between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays continues at the Rogers Centre tonight. Pending the outcome of Friday’s action, the Blue Jays are now in second place in the AL East just 1.5 games back of Baltimore and one game ahead of the third place Boston Red Sox. Also worthy of mention are the New York Yankees who might be part of the mix if they can maintain their recent form. New York has won 7 of 10 and is now just 4.5 games back of the Blue Jays and 3.5 games back of the Red Sox with a 6 game deficit between themselves and the first place Orioles. Toronto enters this game having won 6 of 10 with the Orioles having lost 3 straight and splitting their last ten games.

Toronto will start lefthander J.A. Happ who has been solid all year and particularly at home. He’s been in especially good form of late–the Blue Jays have won 15 of his 20 starts overall this season including 9 of 10 at home and his last three assignments. Happ has a 3.27 ERA overall with a 1.177 WHIP and a 3.22 ERA with a 1.261 WHIP at home. In his last three starts he’s allowed only 3 earned runs and 12 hits in 17 1/3 innings of work for a 1.56 ERA and a 1.038 WHIP. He’s also turned in 20 strikeouts to just six walks.

Happ will be opposed by right hander Yovani Gallardo who has been mediocre in all situations this year and especially on the road. Gallardo has been effective at home where the O’s are 5-0 in his starts but overall they’re just 8-4 and 3-4 on the road. They’ve won two of his last three games. Gallardo hasn’t put up particularly good numbers in any situation with a 5.37 ERA and 1.629 WHIP overall and a 6.94 ERA and a 1.743 WHIP on the road. In his last three starts he’s put up a 4.34 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP.

Toronto hits left handed pitching well (16-11 +6 units 5 runs per game) but they’ve lost money on the road this year (21-27 -3.6 units). Toronto hits right handed pitching very well (42-29 +5 units 5.4 runs per game) but they’ve lost a small amount at home despite a 30-23 record. Gallardo has been very good against Toronto throughout his career and pitched well in a 4-2 win on June 18. That being said, we’ll back Toronto here due to Happ’s better form.

BET TORONTO BLUE JAYS -170 OVER BALTIMORE ORIOLES