After beginning the season on a 10-game road trip, the Toronto Blue Jays return home to Rogers Centre on Monday for their home opener against the Seattle Mariners.
Toronto finished the trip with a 4-6 record that included tough stops in Tampa Bay, Houston, and New York. The team most recently dropped two of three games at Yankee Stadium over the weekend.
Bet on Mariners vs. Blue Jays
SEA +106
TOR -123
The Mariners dropped two of three games to the Brewers in Milwaukee over the weekend after opening the season with seven straight home games. They earned a four-game split with Boston to open the campaign and then proceeded to drop two of three to Cleveland.
Let’s take a look at the best odds available for this Monday night clash:
Mariners vs. Blue Jays best odds
| Mariners Moneyline Odds | +106 @ NorthStar Bets |
| Blue Jays Moneyline Odds | -114 @ Pinnacle |
| Runline Odds | Blue Jays -1.5 (+185 @ PointsBet) Mariners +1.5 (-189 @ PROLINE +) |
| Over/Under | Over 7.5 runs (-125 @ theScore Bet) Under 8 runs (+100 @ Sports Interaction) |
| Time/Date | April 8, 7:07 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: Sportsnet |
Betting Seattle Mariners (4-6 SU, 3-7 ATS, 5-4-1 o/u)
It’s been a rocky start for the Mariners, who were expected to have one of the top pitching staffs in baseball this season. Although it’s a very small sample size, Mariners pitchers bring a 4.94 ERA (23rd in MLB) into action Monday and they’re allowing an average of 5.2 runs per game (also 23rd in the majors). Staff ace Luis Castillo, who is the probable pitcher Monday, is one of the many hurlers on the team to have a slow start.
Offensively, the Mariners are barely treading water. They average 0.7 home runs per game (25th in MLB) and have the third-lowest slugging percentage (.313) in baseball. Their on-base percentage is even worse, ranking 28th in the majors with a .276 mark. Star outfielder Julio Rodriguez has yet to hit his stride, posting a .205/.262/.232 slash line through the first 10 games.
Betting Toronto Blue Jays (4-6 SU, 5-5 ATS, 6-4 o/u)
Toronto’s offensive concerns are carrying over from last year. The team has scored three runs or less in seven of its first 10 games and is hitting just .193 this season, which ranks 28th in MLB. Poor at-bats have resulted in a team slugging percentage of just .327 and an on-base percetnage of .299 which ranks 26th in the majors. However, the Blue Jays are doing some damage with the long ball, amassing nine homers to this point to rank 16th in baseball.
It’s important to note that the back of Toronto’s bullpen is quite banged up, with closer Jordan Romano (elbow) and setup man Erik Swansson (forearm) still on the injured list. Danny Jansen (wrist) and right-hander Alek Manoah (shoulder) are also on the shelf. Chad Green and Yimi Garcia have been used in high-leverage situations out of the bullpen to start the season.
Blue Jays team total: under 3.5 runs
+105
Probable pitchers
Seattle: RHP Luis Castillo (0-2, 6.75 ERA, 10.13 K/9, 1.78 WHIP)
Castillo was lights-out for the Mariners last season when he posted a 14-9 record with a 3.34 ERA over 197 innings, but he’s struggled early during this campaign. He’s coughed up 16 hits and eight earned runs across his first two outings to the Red Sox and Guardians and he’s particularly been having location issues with his four-seam fastball and the amount of break on his sinker. The veteran has just two career starts against Toronto but they’ve been good ones. He’s yielded four earned runs over 11 innings while striking out nine.
Toronto: RHP Jose Berrios (1-0, 2.25 ERA, 6.00 K/9, 1.33 WHIP)
Berrios has been steady since March, cruising through spring training and his first two starts of the season. The righty threw six innings of one-run ball against the Astros last time out after sparkling in the season opener against the Rays with six innings of two-run ball while striking out six. He’s 3-2 with a 3.27 ERA in seven career starts against Seattle while averaging just over a strikeout per inning. Berrios has been taken deep in both of his previous outings this season, but he’s fared well against all of the players on Seattle’s roster in the past in that department, except for Jorge Polanco who has one career homer against him.
Weather
There’s a 99% chance the retractable dome at Rogers Centre will be closed for the home opener as chilly temperatures around 7 C are expected this evening in Toronto.
MLB betting trends
- The Blue Jays have hit the team total under in 40 of their past 66 home games (60.6% hit rate).
- The Blue Jays won the only game they’ve played as favourites this season.
- The Mariners have come away with two wins in the four games they’ve been listed as the underdogs this season.
MLB player prop trends
- Polanco carries a six-game hitting streak into action Monday. The best odds for him to get a hit are at Betano (-161). He’s just 1-for-10 in his career against Berrios, but as previously mentioned, that hit was a long ball.
- Blue Jays DH Justin Turner has drawn a walk in four straight games and five of the last six. He’s also had some success against Castillo, boasting a 1.084 OPS in nine career at-bats against him with a home run. Turner is one the few Blue Jays that sees Castillo well, and the Mariners right-hander knows it. The best odds on Turner to draw a walk can be found at Bet99 (+195).
- Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is cold at the dish, collecting just two hits in 24 at-bats to this point (.083 average). He’s also 0-for-5 in his career against Castillo. Betano (+115) has the best odds for him to go hitless in this one.
MLB bets to consider
- Don’t overthink this one. Both of these teams are struggling at the plate and both of the probable starting pitchers have the ability to completely shut down an opposing roster. Take the under eight total runs (+100) at Sports Interaction.
- Turner is one of the few Blue Jays actually swinging the bat well, and the aforementioned walks prop at enticing +195 odds (Bet99) should play here. Castillo isn’t locked in yet (three walks in 10 2/3 innings) this early in the season, and he should pitch the Jays veteran carefully on the corners, making him prone to issuing a free pass.
