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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Cleveland Indians Free Preview 04/15/18

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Blue Jays will face the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. This AL matchup will begin at 1:10 p.m. ET and SportsTime Ohio is in line to showcase the game.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Cleveland Indians Odds

Toronto (+125) is entering this game as the underdog to Cleveland (-135) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this day game at 8.5 runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -170 for taking the Blue Jays +1.5 runs and +150 for the Indians -1.5.

The Blue Jays have gone 9-5 SU this year and are 8-6 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 3.0 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 2.8 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven. The Indians are 8-6 SU and 5-9 ATS. They’ve lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors and 5.0 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.

Indians games have an over/under record of 5-9 so far in 2018. The Blue Jays have an over/under record of 5-8-1.

The Blue Jays have gained 1.4 units and are 5-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to six that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Indians have netted 2.5 units and are 1-4 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to four that’ve gone under.

Jaime Garcia (1-0, 3.18 ERA) will get the start for Toronto. The left-handed Garcia started 27 games last year and finished the season 5-10 overall with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He made two starts against Cleveland in 2017 and put together a 0-2 record against the Indians with a 5.59 ERA and nine strikeouts.

The Indians are going with righty Corey Kluber (1-1, 1.57 ERA) as their starter. Kluber recorded 265 strikeouts across 203 innings last year (with only 36 walks), while finishing the season 18-4 overall with a 2.25 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP.

Cleveland’s pitchers have yielded 3.2 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 3.06, a WHIP of 1.05 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.2. The bullpen has a 3.32 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 8.8 K/9.

The Cleveland hitters are putting up 3.5 runs per contest, including 3.2 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .274/.335/.421 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.

The Indians’ offense has been led by outfielders Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall. Naquin is slashing .280/.333/.400 with seven hits, four RBIs and three runs scored, while Chisenhall’s line is .235/.381/.294 with four hits, zero RBIs and three runs scored.

In the visiting dugout, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.92 K/9. The bullpen has an outstanding ERA of just 2.38, along with a WHIP of 1.42 and a K/9 of 9.53.

The Blue Jays offense has slashed .230/.312/.422 on its way to 5.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).

First baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman Yangervis Solarte have led Toronto’s hitters. Smoak is slashing .288/.397/.500 with 15 hits, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Solarte (.286/.423/.500) is up to 12 hits, two homers, four RBIs and seven runs scored.

Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians Free MLB Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – UNDER

Notes

Betting Trends

The Blue Jays have won four of their last five games SU.

Toronto has posted 21.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 22.2 over its last five.

The Blue Jays have hit 15 home runs in their last 10 games. The Indians have hit seven over their last 10.

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Written by GMS Previews

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