Say hello to the hottest team in baseball.
After clinching yet another series win on Tuesday night with a narrow 10-9 victory, the Blue Jays are now an MLB-best 21-10 since May 8. It’s a span of time where Toronto leads all teams in batting average (.273) and all positional player groups in fWAR (8.8). The Jays’ 125 wRC+ also ranks second to only the Yankees in that 31-game stretch. That’s how you go from being below .500 to suddenly having the third-most wins of any squad in the AL.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are simply looking to not get swept at home on Wednesday. However, they’ll have to do it without the services of likely All-Star Brendan Donovan, who was removed from last night’s contest due to a toe issue. Donovan is not in the lineup today.
Let’s preview this matinee matchup with the help of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Blue Jays vs. Cardinals prediction, preview
While Toronto comes into this tilt riding high, this will not be an easy opportunity for a sweep, as the Jays will once again be forced into a bullpen game scenario. Eric Lauer will start for only the third time in 2025, though the veteran left-hander has been quite good in whatever role has been thrown his way this season. In 26.0 innings, Lauer sports a 2.08 ERA and a 3.17 xERA. In his last three appearances — all with the “bulk” designation we’ve come to know and loathe — the veteran LHP has tossed a combined 9.2 scoreless innings. Even more impressive? Lauer’s only given up one hit to the 34 batters he’s faced in that span of time. Not too shabby.
The big question is what happens after Lauer exits the contest. Toronto’s bullpen has been worked hard over the last five games, likely leaving Spencer Turnbull to have to pitch at least a couple of innings on Wednesday. Turnbull was great in a similar role in Philadelphia last season, maintaining a 2.65 ERA over 54.1 innings and 17 appearances, yet the 32-year-old wasn’t in Spring Training in 2025 and he’s had to endure an expedited ramp-up process with the Jays over the last six weeks. That included five appearances across multiple levels in the minors, where Turnbull pitched to a 7.13 ERA with a whole lot of walks. According to reports, the veteran RHP’s velocity also currently a work in progress. Doesn’t sound too promising, does it?
On the other side of this pitching battle, St. Louis will send one of its best to the mound. Matthew Liberatore seems to finally be living up to the hype of his first-round price tag, registering a 3.04 FIP over what is already a career-high 12 starts so far in 2025. Still, the lefty has been a little rough in his last two outings, surrendering 11 earned runs in just 9.0 innings of work. To put that in perspective, Liberatore had given up only 10 earned runs in his prior eight starts to this recent ugly stretch. The highs have been very high. Getting things back on track on Wednesday is exceedingly possible, though it’s worth noting that the Jays own a 120 wRC+ off southpaws this season — the fourth-best mark in MLB.
Blue Jays vs. Cardinals pick, best bet
Best Bet: Over 8.5 (-115)
The presence of Spencer Turnbull is key with this prop, as is a red-hot Blue Jays lineup.
Strong Lean: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2+ Total Bases (-105)
Guerrero has a .487 expected wOBA against LHPs in 2025 — the third-highest qualified mark in the league.
