All 30 MLB teams take the field on Friday as the league kicks back into high gear following the All-Star break earlier in the week. Players are rested after getting a few days off and should hit the diamond running into the home stretch of the season.
The Toronto Blue Jays host the San Francisco Giants in an interleague battle between contenders to kick off a three-game series up north.
Here’s a Blue Jays vs. Giants prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for Friday’s action.
Blue Jays vs. Giants prediction, preview
The Blue Jays were surging prior to the All-Star Game as winners of 10 straight games before dropping three of their last four. At 55-41, they sit atop the AL East as they jumped higher in the standings thanks to the winning streak.
The offense sits second in AVG at .258 with the ninth-best OPS and 12th-most runs scored. Top contributors over the first half include George Springer, Addison Barger, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., all of whom bat at least .261 with 12 or more home runs. The Blue Jays’ pitching staff ranks 22nd in ERA and 18th in WHIP with the fifth-most strikeouts, and with a bit of added help at the trade deadline, they could ascend and truly push the team to contender status.
Meanwhile, the Giants are more of the inverse with a stellar pitching staff and less-consistent offense. The team sits 52-45 at just third in the NL West but they remain just behind the second-place Padres.
San Francisco’s lineup ranks 28th in AVG and 24th in OPS. They’ve scored the 21st-most runs this season, so their record is a true testament to the pitching staff. As far as offensive stars go, Heliot Ramos leads the team in hits (96) and homers (14), while Matt Chapman’s .773 OPS remains a team-high. Rafael Devers was acquired via trade back in June and hasn’t quite found his stride with the Giants, slashing .202/.330/.326 in 89 at-bats. The pitching staff excels behind ace Logan Webb, though Robbie Ray quietly posts arguably-better numbers. Overall, San Francisco sits third in ERA, 13th in WHIP and eighth in punchouts.
Blue Jays vs. Giants pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Blue Jays as -137 favorites on the Moneyline while the Giants are +112 underdogs to win outright. The run total sits at 8.5.
Toronto righty Chris Bassitt (4.12 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 104 SO) duels against San Francisco right-hander Justin Verlander (4.70 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 67 SO).
Verlander has just 15 games under his belt this season and seems like Father Time may finally have caught up to him. He’s certainly a lock to make the Hall of Fame but isn’t what he once was, especially with his fastball velo grading out in the 42nd percentile. The 42-year-old faces a tough test against a standout offensive lineup in this contest and it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Blue Jays hang plenty of runs on the scoreboard. That’s why I’m targeting over 5.5 runs for Toronto at +165 odds.
Best bet: TOR Blue Jays over 5.5 runs (+165)
Click the odds on this bet to tail!
