Entering Wednesday, the Blue Jays and Guardians were headed in opposite directions. Toronto was one of baseball’s hottest teams, going 28-12 over their last 40 games. The same couldn’t be said for Cleveland, who had fallen to just one game above .500. However, the home team came out on top last night with a dramatic 5-4 victory. Jose Ramirez hit a walk-off single in the tenth inning, evening up this series at one game apiece. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Thursday’s battle between the Blue Jays and Guardians.
The Guardians enter as favorites (-126) over the Blue Jays, with the over/under set at eight runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook going into today’s contest.
Blue Jays at Guardians prediction, preview
Last night, all eyes were on Max Scherzer, making his first start in nearly three months. On Thursday, Toronto will once again have a big question mark on the mound, albeit for a different reason. Kevin Gausman has become one of the league’s most frustrating pitchers. The right-hander has middling numbers so far, posting a 4.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 84 strikeouts over 86.0 innings. Still, when he’s ‘on’, the two-time All-Star has undeniable stuff. Gausman has gotten shelled over his last two outings, coughing up 11 earned runs (10.61 ERA). Granted, those starts came against two of baseball’s best lineups, the Phillies and Diamondbacks. This afternoon’s opponent doesn’t come close to either at the plate.
The Guardians are not an offensive powerhouse, ranking 25th in the league with 3.81 runs scored per game. Prior to last night’s win, Cleveland had scored more than four runs in just two of its previous 20 contests. That’s not to say there aren’t any bats worth paying attention to on this roster. The aforementioned Ramirez has notched a wRC+ of 148, one of the American League’s best totals. Other standouts include Steven Kwan (129 wRC+), Daniel Schneemann (110 wRC+), and Kyle Manzardo (108 wRC+). When Gausman faced the Guardians on May 3rd, he tossed six scoreless innings.
Taking the hill for Cleveland will be one of its best arms, Tanner Bibee. Over 15 appearances this season, the righty has put up a 3.86 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. The 26-year-old’s most impressive trait is his consistency. In nine of those 15 outings, Bibee has managed to hold his opposition to two runs or less. That includes a May 4th start against the Blue Jays (5 IP, 2 ER). If the Guardians have a shot at taking this series, they’ll need another solid performance from their budding ace.
Blue Jays at Guardians pick, best bet
Best Bet: Blue Jays Guardians under eight runs (-119)
Trusting Gausman is never easy, but the veteran appears due for a quality start. On the flip side, Bibee has proven he can handle this Blue Jays offense. After a long, intense affair last night, expect the bats to struggle in this one.
