The New York Yankees (4-5) and Toronto Blue Jays (4-5) open a three-game series Monday at 7:07 p.m. ET at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Yankees vs. Blue Jays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Gerrit Cole is the projected to make his third start of the season for the Yankees. His combined 2020-21 line: 8-3 with a 2.64 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 12.1 K/9, and 2.0 BB/9 over 85 1/3 IP across 14 starts.
Cole faced the Blue Jays April 1 and allowed 2 earned runs over 5 1/3 IP; in 96 career plate appearances, Toronto batters own a whiff-heavy .533 OPS against him.
LHP Robbie Ray is the projected starter for the Blue Jays. In 11 starts and one relief stint last season, he went 2-5 with a 6.62 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 11.8 K/9, and 7.8 BB/9 over 51 2/3 IP with the Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks. Ray is making his regular-season debut after spending time on the injured list due to a bruised left elbow.
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Yankees at Blue Jays odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Yankees -185 (bet $185 to win $100) | Blue Jays +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
- Against the spread/ATS: Yankees -1.5 (-115) | Blue Jays +1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 9 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Prediction
Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3
Money line (ML)
The Jays are coming off a 15-run performance against the Los Angeles Angels in their home-away-from-home park in Dunedin. That game was Saturday, as Toronto had its Sunday contest nixed due to rain. The Yankees come in off an 8-4 extra-inning win at the Tampa Bay Rays.
Cole has a good line against Jays batters and his mound foe comes off the IL, so there could be some rust. Ray also has a history of getting out of the gate slow, and he struggles against right-handed bats of which New York has plenty.
Consider the YANKEES (-185) as an undercard play — with a stronger lean, and less juice to overcome, on the run line.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Yankees bullpen has been perhaps the best in the league through the first 11 days of the season; Toronto’s pen has a 2.25 ERA but is likely too far out over its skis with that figure. Jays relievers have walked 4.1 batters per nine and have been a bit fly-ball-fortunate.
The New York offense has been hamstrung by a .174 batting average on balls in play when leading off innings. A .227 batting average with runners in scoring position is also under water in the BABIP department. It all spells better days ahead for the Yankees attack.
BACK THE YANKEES -1.5 (-115).
Over/Under (O/U)
A breeze out in this hitter’s yard spells Over. Yankees pitching — and the starter they go with tonight — scrambles the value on that lean. PASS.
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