Blue Jays vs. Twins Pick
The Toronto Blue Jays and host Minnesota Twins resume their four-game series Friday night at 8:10PM EST.
Toronto is a slim -120 favorite to win on the moneyline according to sports book Bovada.lv. The Twins are a +100 underdog and the over-under is set at 9.5.
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Starting for the Blue Jays will be J.A. Happ (8-10, 3.73 ERA), while the Twins counter with Bartolo Colon (6-12, 6.41). Happ has a 1.36 WHIP with 122 strikeouts over 125 1/3 innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits with nine strikeouts and two walks over six innings in an 8-2 home win over the Tigers his last start. Happ has a 3.92 ERA in 10 road starts. Colon carries a 1.62 WHIP with 80 strikeouts over 126 1/3 innings. He allowed six earned runs on six hits with no strikeouts and no walks in 1 2/3 innings his last start, an 11-3 loss at the Royals. Colon has a 6.67 home ERA in 10 starts.
Toronto is 68-79 on the season and 29-43 on the road, while Minnesota enters at 77-69 and 38-37 at home. The Twins lead the season series 3-1 and the total has gone under three times.
On Thursday, night, Minnesota won its third straight game and second consecutive in walk-off fashion as Byron Buxton hit a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 10th inning for a 3-2 victory. Jorge Polanco was 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs in the win, while Buxton was 2-for-4 with the homer and a walk. Eddie Rosario finished 2-for-3. Dillon Gee picked up the win in relief. Justin Smoak was 2-for-5 with a game-tying ninth-inning home run to pace the Blue Jays. Kevin Pillar was 2-for-5 with a double. Luis Santos took the loss in relief.
Everyone loves Colon, but his best days are long behind him. He was shelled in his last start and doesn’t inspire much confidence these days. Luckily for the Twins, they’ve built a cushion for the second AL Wild Card spot and this game isn’t a necessity. With the way Happ has been pitching of late, we’re siding with Toronto in this one.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO BLUE JAYS -120