Blue Jays vs. Mariners Prediction
The Toronto Blue Jays blew a ninth-inning lead last night and were swept on the road in an interleague series. Can Toronto rebound with a win tonight as it opens a series at the Seattle Mariners?
Game Snapshot
923 Toronto Blue Jays at 924 Seattle Mariners
Friday, August 23, 2019
T-Mobile Park at 10:10PM ET
TV: FSSD
Compare odds from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our MLB Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Mariners are a -107 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Blue Jays are a -103 underdog, while the total is set at 9.5 runs. As of Friday afternoon, 58 percent of public bets are being placed on visiting Toronto. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Blue Jays falter in ninth
Toronto allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday night in a 3-2 loss at the Dodgers. Derek Law took the loss in relief as he surrendered three earned runs on three hits with no strikeouts and one walk over wo-thirds of an inning. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. helped lead the Blue Jays offense as he finished 3-for-4 with a solo home run. Randal Grichuk went 1-for-4 with a run scored. Billy McKinney ended the contest 1-for-2. Trent Thornton will start tonight for Toronto as he enters with a 4-8 record, 5.30 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with 113 strikeouts over 120 2/3 innings pitched.
Mariners unable to hold on
Seattle scored three runs in the top of the ninth Wednesday afternoon at Tampa Bay, but then proceeded to give up two in the bottom half of a 7-6 loss. Daniel Vogelbach helped lead the Mariners offense as he ended the game 1-for-3 with a solo home run plus a walk. J.P. Crawford was 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and a run scored. Tim Lopes went 1-for-3 with a walk plus two RBIs. Matt Magill took the loss in relief as he allowed two earned runs on three hits with a walk while not recording an out. Justus Sheffield draws the start tonight for Seattle as he gave up two earned runs on two hits with three strikeouts and four walks over three innings in a 5-4 home win over Texas back on April 26 in his only other MLB appearance this season.
MLB Betting Trends
Toronto
The Blue Jays are 4-1 in their last five Friday games. Toronto is 1-4 in the last five Thornton starts on Fridays.
Seattle
The Mariners are 4-1 in their last five games overall. Seattle is 2-6 in its last eight Friday games.
Prediction:
Toronto has lost five in a row, but the last three can be taken with a grain of salt at a very difficult spot in Dodger Stadium. The Blue Jays were beaten down in the opener, but it took late heroics by the Dodgers to win the last two games. Thornton hasn’t had the best of seasons, but he has a decent strikeout rate and has had spurts of very good pitching this season. Against an underwhelming offense in Seattle, I like him to give an effective start. Sheffield has plenty of potential, but it will take time and I am betting on Toronto getting to him enough to record the win and end its five-game losing skid.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO BLUE JAYS -103