Marco Estrada (1-2, 3.55 ERA) and the Toronto Blue Jays (19-24) meet Felix Hernandez (6-1, 2.30 ERA) and the Seattle Mariners (18-22) in the first of a three-game series at the Rogers Centre. The game gets underway at 7:07 p.m. ET on Friday, May. 22 and will air on ROOT-NW and RSN.
In his last start, Estrada pitched 5.0 innings, giving up two runs, striking out eight and walking four in a 6-5 loss to the Astros. Josh Donaldson (.305, 31 Rs, 9 HRs, 28 RBIs, 2 SBs) went 1 for 5 yesterday with one run. In his career against the Blue Jays, Hernandez is 5-6 with a 4.80 ERA. He meets a solid Toronto offense that’s batting .258. Brad Miller (.267, 12 Rs, 5 HRs, 14 RBIs, 3 SBs) has been doing well, going 2 for 5 yesterday with one run.
Toronto, a +130 underdog, will look to capitalize at home against Seattle. The teams combine to set the Over/Under (O/U) at seven runs. The Blue Jays perform poorly as an underdog with a 7-16 record and have an overall money line of -748. Over the last 10 games, they have performed poorly when playing as the underdog (1-6). The Blue Jays come into the game with the top-ranked scoring offense in the AL, averaging 5.1 runs per game. The Blue Jays are a dangerous hitting team with an MLB-best 143 extra base hits. Don’t expect the Toronto hitters to swing wildly in their own ballpark. They average only 6.2 strikeouts per home game. Turning to the pitching staff, the Blue Jays are fourth in the AL in hits allowed at home with just 7.7 per game.
Switching to the opposing bench, the Mariners come into this game with a win percentage of .500 when playing as the favorite (14-14) and an overall money line of -833.
This game will feature Hernandez (RHP) on the mound against the Blue Jays, who have a 12-21 record when they take on a right-handed starter. Taking the hill against the Mariners will be the right-hander Estrada. They sport a 14-17 record against righties.
Predictions: SU Winner – TOR, O/U – Over
Notes
When leading after 7 innings, Seattle is 8-5, while Toronto is 10-9.
The Blue Jays are coming into this game after allowing two walks during their last outing. The Mariners have a 7-14 record when opponents give up that many walks or fewer.
When they are outhit, the Blue Jays are 2-19. The Mariners have a 7-13 record when opponents outhit them.
Both falling in the top five of the league based on total home runs this season, Toronto ranks fifth with 47 homers and Seattle is third with 51.
Ranking 12th, Seattle is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.05 per game. Toronto ranks in the top 10 at sixth with 8.55.
Ranking 16th, Seattle is in the bottom half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.705). Toronto ranks in the top five at fourth with an OPS of .754.
The Mariners are 7-18 when they allow at least one home run. The Blue Jays perform similarly when they allow one or more homers with an 11-19 record.
