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The Toronto Blue Jays (3-4) and New York Yankees (6-1) meet Friday afternoon to open a 3-game AL East series in the Bronx. Friday’s contest, New York’s home opener, is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jays vs. Yankees odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; New York won last year’s series 7-6
The Blue Jays are continuing a season-opening, 3-city road trip. They are coming off scoring just 2 runs in losing 2 of 3 games at the Houston Astros.
The Yankees are back in the Bronx after a successful 6-1 road swing through Houston and Phoenix. New York was under-.500 (40-41) on the road last season when the club missed the postseason for the 1st time since 2016.
Blue Jays at Yankees projected starters
LHP Yusei Kikuchi vs. RHP Marcus Stroman
Kikuchi (0-1, 6.23 ERA) makes his 2nd start this season. He has a 2.08 WHIP, 6.2 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 in 4 1/3 IP.
- Owns a 4.72 ERA across 135 career games
- Last outing: Loss, 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K in 5-1 loss at Tampa Bay Rays
- Career vs. Yankees: 4-3, 3.57 ERA (53 IP, 21 ER), 45 H, 22 BB, 49 K
Stroman (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is tabbed for his 2nd start. He owns a 1.00 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9 and 6.0 K/9 in 6 IP.
- Has a 3.64 ERA over 232 career starts
- Has held opposing batters to a tidy .637 OPS in his career March/April efforts
- Last outing: Win, 6 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 5-3 win at Houston Astros
- Career vs. Blue Jays: 0-0, 1.80 ERA (5 IP, 1 ER), 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K
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Blue Jays at Yankees odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:39 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Blue Jays +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Yankees -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blue Jays +1.5 (-155) | Yankees -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Blue Jays at Yankees picks and predictions
Prediction
Yankees 6, Blue Jays 5
Moneyline
New York is 3-1 over its last 4 games against Toronto.
Stroman figures as more likely to give some quality innings, but that’s more fade-Kikuchi than anything else. And the rested Yankee bullpen is also a green check in that column.
But at these prices, its tepid support for the home team. Consider holding out for a better price. Or perhaps BACK THE YANKEES -155 on a partial-unit play.
Run line/Against the spread
The Yankees are off to a hot start, but are likely getting too much support from bettors. Even with a likable Over (see below), this Yankees-minus-a-cushion offering gets a PASS.
Over/Under
Across 9 Kikuchi starts since August, the Over has gone 6-1-2.
Stroman is making his 1st home start with the Yankees, and he has a track record to dispel: In 11 career starts at Yankee Stadium, he has allowed an .839 OPS while posting a 6.06 ERA.
Peg Toronto’s offense as being a better-than-average one that has so far been hampered by a paltry .196 batting average on balls in play.
On a day the weather report tabs with a hefty outward blowing breeze, peg this game as being in the hands of the batters. BACK THE OVER 8.5 (-115).
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