Our Blue Jays vs. Braves prediction for Thursday night points to a tough matchup for Toronto, as the injury-ravaged Blue Jays try to snap a four-game losing streak against Atlanta’s ace Chris Sale and the best team in baseball. With the Braves sending their Cy Young-calibre lefty to the mound and Toronto relying on a planned bullpen game, this series finale sets up as a prime spot for the red-hot Braves to cover the -1.5 run line.
Blue Jays vs. Braves prediction
Braves -1.5 run line: +105 @ bet365
Braves -1.5 run line
The Blue Jays have fallen into a serious funk after Jeff Hoffman’s implosion in the ninth inning of last Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, and it really seems like an impossible task to climb out of that funk against a red-hot Braves team sending their ace to the mound on Thursday in the series finale.
Additionally, a planned bullpen game for the Blue Jays doesn’t set them up for success against one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. Toronto’s bullpen ranks 15th in ERA (3.93), 12th in WHIP (1.28), and 15th in opponents’ batting average (.241), putting it around the league average in those statistical categories.
With Atlanta already having gotten a day off on Monday, it’s unlikely the team will elect to rest a few starters against the beleaguered Blue Jays on Thursday, although bettors should always monitor the starting lineups to make sure that’s the case.
We’re getting great value on the best team in baseball to win this contest by two runs or more at +105 odds, and Atlanta has been a solid bet on the run line overall this year with an outstanding 39-23 record against the spread.
As always, look for the most favourable MLB odds at the best MLB betting sites before locking in any wagers on our Blue Jays vs. Braves prediction.
Greg’s Blue Jays predictions are 18-9-2 for +7.91 units this season.
Blue Jays vs. Braves odds
| Blue Jays moneyline odds | +170 |
| Braves moneyline odds | -210 |
| Run line odds | Braves -1.5 (+105), Blue Jays +1.5 (-125) |
| Game total | Over 7.5 runs (-110), Under 7.5 (-110) |
| Date/time | June 4, 7:15 p.m. ET |
Betting the Blue Jays (29-33 SU, 30-32 ATS, 31-30-1)
The Blue Jays will be looking to avoid a fifth straight loss after falling 7-3 to Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Now four games below .500, the injury-ravaged Jays have the daunting task of halting their losing streak against one of the best pitchers in baseball.
The team will head back to Rogers Centre for a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles before welcoming the powerful Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees, so it’s crucial that the Blue Jays stop the bleeding now before they fall too far out of contention in the weak American League.
Betting the Braves (42-20 SU, 39-23 ATS, 29-30-3 o/u)
The Braves own the best record in the majors at 42-20 and are an incredible 17-2-1 in series this year after taking the first two games of this three-game set with Toronto.
They’re thriving from both a hitting and pitching perspective, averaging a league-best 5.3 runs per game while allowing just 3.4, which ranks second in the majors. The team has smashed 87 homers in 62 games, trailing only the Yankees with 89.
This team literally doesn’t have a flaw, and it’s expecting three key pitchers to return from injury later in the season for a deep playoff push.
Probable starting pitchers
Toronto: LHP Mason Fluharty (3-0, 3.97 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 11.91 K/9)
Fluharty will open this planned bullpen game for the injury-ravaged Blue Jays.
The reliever leads MLB with 32 appearances and has a top-10 K-BB ratio among left-handed relievers. Fluharty will likely only pitch a single inning to line up with left-handed batters Michael Harris and Matt Olson at the top of Atlanta’s lineup, assuming they don’t make adjustments based on Toronto starting a southpaw.
Toronto’s bullpen is in good shape overall after the team only used three relievers sparingly in Wednesday’s contest. Everyone should be available to pitch in some capacity in this contest.
Atlanta: LHP Chris Sale (8-3, 2.01 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 10.75 K/9)
Sale is still one of the best pitchers in baseball at 37 years of age, and he’s on a terrific run right now, holding the opposition to two runs or less in each of his last eight starts.
Every single one of his Statcast metrics ranks above league average, and he’s in the 96th percentile in chase rate (37.1%), the 92nd percentile in strikeout rate (30.2%), and the 91st percentile in hard-hit rate (29.6%).
Sale has been nearly flawless in five home starts this season, recording a microscopic 0.60 ERA while holding opponents to a .171 batting average.
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)
- P Dylan Cease (hamstring)
- P Max Scherzer (forearm)
- OF Addison Barger (arm)
- P Joe Mantiply (knee)
- P Tommy Nance (forearm)
OF Jesus Sanchez is day-to-day with a wrist contusion.
The following players are on the injured list for Atlanta:
- C Sean Murphy (finger)
- P Joe Jimenez (knee)
- C Drake Baldwin (oblique)
- P AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow)
- P Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow)
- P Hurston Waldrep (elbow)
Weather
Forecasts are calling for clear skies and temperatures around 24 C this evening in Atlanta. Winds will be blowing in from left field at just 5 mph.
Blue Jays vs. Braves betting trends
- Toronto is 12-20 SU on the road this season.
- Atlanta is 17-9 SU against AL foes this season.
- The over is 11-5 in Atlanta’s last 16 games.
- The over is 4-1 in Toronto’s last five games.
Blue Jays vs. Braves player prop trends
- Sale has allowed one run or fewer in eight of his 11 starts this season, averaging 1.4 runs allowed per game during that span. He’s +100 to allow under 1.5 earned runs on Thursday night.
- Sale has struck out eight or more batters in three straight starts and five of his last six. However, the Blue Jays strike out the least in the majors, averaging 7.19 per game. Sale is +110 to record eight or more strikeouts against Toronto.
- Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies has hit safely in seven straight games and is -210 to get a hit.
- Ernie Clement has a six-game hitting streak and is -250 to extend that run.
- Ronald Acuna Jr. has five home runs in his last six games, although he hasn’t gone deep in this series yet with Toronto. He’s +380 to homer.
