Our Blue Jays vs. Tigers predictions for Friday night point to Toronto rookie Trey Yesavage being the key betting angle in this matchup at Comerica Park.
Blue Jays vs. Tigers Prediction
Trey Yesavage over 5.5 strikeouts: -115 @ Sports Interaction
Yesavage over 5.5 strikeouts
Historically, hitters have struggled when facing Yesavage for the first time, and that will be the case for every player on Detroit’s roster on Friday night.
The right-hander’s unique over-the-top release point makes it very difficult for hitters to decipher whether he’s throwing his rising fastball or devastating splitter, so Yesavage should be able to generate a decent amount of swing and misses on Friday night, especially in the first time through the order.
Yesavage has also been slowly working up his pitch count over his first three starts, topping out at 87 the last time he took the hill. He should push into the 90-100 pitch range in this contest, giving him additional time to rack up K’s against a Tigers squad that is averaging 8.43 strikeouts per game, which ranks right in the middle of the pack in the majors.
Yesavage boasts a solid 26.3% strikeout rate (77th percentile in the majors) while also owning an elite 36% chase rate (90th percentile).
As always, make sure to shop around at the best MLB betting sites for the most favourable odds on any of our Blue Jays vs. Tigers predictions.
Our Blue Jays predictions have gone 12-8-2 for +2.02 units this season.
Blue Jays vs. Tigers odds
| Blue Jays moneyline odds | -130 |
| Tigers moneyline odds | +110 |
| Run line odds | Blue Jays -1.5 (+125), Tigers +1.5 (-150) |
| Game total | Over 8 runs (-110), Under 8 runs (-110) |
| Date/time | May 15, 6:45 p.m. ET |
About the Blue Jays (19-24 SU, 19-24 ATS, 23-20 o/u)
The Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak with some late-game heroics on Wednesday, edging the Rays 5-3 in extra innings. Daulton Varsho launched his sixth career grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to help Toronto walk off the Rays and salvage the final game of their three-game series.
Friday marks the beginning of a daunting stretch for the Blue Jays, who will visit for Detroit for three games, the New York Yankees for four, and then host Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games at Rogers Centre. Toronto won’t have a day off during this difficult portion of its schedule, but the team did have a chance to rest on Thursday while Detroit played the New York Mets.
A disappointing 19-24 start to the season can be mostly blamed on injuries, as the Blue Jays have been missing several key starters all season long. Unfortunately, reinforcements don’t seem to be on the way anytime soon.
About the Tigers (19-25 SU, 20-24 ATS, 21-21-2 o/u)
The Tigers are licking their wounds after suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Mets at Citi Field earlier this week.
Like the Blue Jays, the Tigers are also missing several key players due to injury, including staff ace Tarik Skubal and outfielder Kerry Carpenter.
Despite their slow start to the season, the Tigers still remain very much in the hunt in the mediocre AL Central, trailing the Cleveland Guardians (24-21) by just 4 1/2 games for the division lead entering play Friday.
Detroit has only one win its last nine games, but it does boast an impressive 12-6 record at Comerica Park this season.
Probable starting pitchers
Toronto: RHP Trey Yesavage (1-1, 0.68 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 10.13 K/9)
Yesavage will be making his fourth start since coming off the injured list, as he continues to try and build his pitch count. He reached 87 last time out versus the Los Angeles Angels, who managed no runs on four hits against the right-hander over four innings.
Yesavage has yielded just one run over 13 1/3 innings of work this season, as hitters continue to struggle against his over-the-top delivery and devastating splitter. He’s averaging over a strikeout per inning and ranks in the 99th percentile in hard-hit rate (19.1%).
The 22-year-old will have the element of surprise in his favour on Friday night, as no one on the Tigers roster has a previous at-bat against him.
Detroit: RHP Brenan Hanifee (0-0, 1.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 4.32 K/9)
Hanifee, who threw one inning in relief on Thursday, will be used as an opener on Friday before making way for right-hander Ty Madden in a bulk-relief role.
That means Hanifee will likely only throw a single inning before handing the ball over to Madden for multiple innings of relief work.
Madden has allowed just three runs with a 12:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 11 innings across his first two appearances for Detroit this season.
Notable injuries
The following players are on the injured list for Toronto:
- OF Anthony Santander (shoulder)
- P Cody Ponce (knee)
- C Alejandro Kirk (thumb)
- P Jose Berrios (elbow)
- P Shane Bieber (elbow)
- P Yimi Garcia (elbow)
- P Bowden Francis (elbow)
- OK Nathan Lukes (hamstring)
- P Max Scherzer (forearm)
- OF Addison Barger (arm)
The following notable players are on the injured list for Detroit:
- P Casey Mize (thigh)
- P Will Vest (forearm)
- P Connor Seabold (ankle)
- P Justin Verlander (hip)
- OF Kerry Carpenter (shoulder)
- P Tarik Skubal (elbow)
- P Reese Olson (shoulder)
- SS Javier Baez (ankle)
- OF Parker Meadows (forearm)
- SS Trey Sweeney (shoulder)
Weather
The forecast looks favourable for Friday night, with pleasant temperatures around 18 C and clear skies. Winds will blow in from right field at 13 mph.
Blue Jays vs. Tigers betting trends
- The Tigers are 12-6 at Comerica Park this season.
- The Blue Jays are 6-13 on the road this season.
- The Blue Jays have hit the F5 team total under in 30 of their last 45 games.
- The Blue Jays have hit the team total under in seven of their last nine away games.
Blue Jays vs. Tigers player prop trends
- Yesavage has allowed one earned or fewer in each of his past five starts dating back to last season. He’s +123 to allow under 1.5 earned runs on Friday.
- Tigers outfielder Riley Greene is riding a nine-game hitting streak into action and is -165 to extend that streak.
- Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler has exceeded over 1.5 total bases in four straight games and is +135 to extend that run.
