Mark Buehrle (5-3, 5.36 ERA) and James Paxton (2-2, 3.59 ERA) are on the hill in the second of a three-game series between the Toronto Blue Jays (19-25) and the Seattle Mariners (19-22) at the Rogers Centre. The Mariners won the last game 4-3 and Seattle leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 1:07 p.m. ET on Saturday, May. 23 and can be seen on ROOT-NW, RSN and MLB Net.
Buehrle is 8-4 with a 3.56 ERA in his appearances against the Mariners, and goes up against a below-average Seattle offense which is batting just .239 this season. Against the Blue Jays, Paxton is 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA, 4.88 WHIP, and one strike out. Nelson Cruz (.354, 29 Rs, 17 HRs, 34 RBIs, 1 SB) has been successful at the plate for the Mariners, going 2 for 4 yesterday with one run, one home run, and one RBI.
Toronto is a -121 favorite against Seattle and the Over/Under (O/U) for this game is sitting at eight runs. The Blue Jays have an overall money line of -648 and a record as the favorite of 11-8. The Blue Jays have no trouble scoring as they lead the AL in offense with 5.2 runs per game. The Blue Jays are one of the best in the AL in terms of hits at home with an impressive 9.2 per game. Turning to the pitchers, the Blue Jays are the fourth-best team in the AL at limiting hits during home games, allowing only 7.6 hits per game to their opponents this season.
As for their opponent, Seattle is coming in with an overall money line of -833 and a disappointing record of 4-8 as the underdog.
The Mariners have the edge in the season series, 1-0. The Blue Jays have a great 4-1 record at home (6-3 overall) against left-handed starting pitchers, which is what they’ll be facing when Paxton takes the mound. Buehrle (LHP) will be on the hill against the Mariners, who have a 4-5 record against left-handed starting pitchers.
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 managed to give up four walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Mariners who are coming in with a 6-4 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Blue Jays are 2-19. The Mariners have an 8-13 record when opponents outhit them.
Both falling in the top five of the league based on total home runs this season, Toronto ranks fourth with 49 homers and Seattle is third with 52.
Toronto and Seattle both rank in the top 10 of the league in hits. Toronto sits at sixth with 8.58 hits per game and Seattle ranks 10th with 8.10.
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.
When the Mariners allow at least one home run, they are 8-18, well-matched with the Blue Jays who are 11-20 when allowing at least one homer.
