It was another gut-punch of a loss for the Toronto Blue Jays as they gave away another late-inning lead to the Los Angeles Angels last night.
So, still in search of their first win of this series, Toronto hands the ball to Chris Bassitt. The right-hander has been one of the few bright spots this season and they need him in a big way tonight.
Bassitt highlights my best bet for tonight’s Blue Jays predictions. Find out why, plus a same-game parlay below.
Blue Jays predictions for May 8
- Best bet
Chris Bassitt Under 2.5 earned runs
(-138 at BetVictor) - SGP pick
Chris Bassitt Under 2.5 earned runs
Chris Bassitt Over 5.5 strikeouts
Anthony Santander Over 0.5 RBIs
(+440 at BetVictor)
Today’s Blue Jays best bet: Bassitt to Bounce Back
Chris Bassitt Under 2.5 earned runs (-138 at BetVictor)
I wouldn’t blame Toronto Blue Jays fans if they felt physically ill after last night’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
The Blue Jays got six strong innings from starter Jose Berrios and held a 4-2 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth, where they handed the ball to closer Jeff Hoffman, who, honestly, has looked like one of the best relievers in baseball this season.
So, of course, he surrendered three runs on three hits and a walk as the Jays lost 5-4.
Now, the Blue Jays have to quickly put that behind them as they try to salvage the series against the Angels, and they have the right man for the job in starter Chris Bassitt.
Bassitt is the ultimate competitor, and has the mentality to go out and put his team in a position to win. That said, he has cooled off after a hot start to the season. But I like him to bounce back tonight.
The veteran right-hander with the massive arsenal of pitches has allowed 11 runs over his last three starts after giving up just two over his first four. However, his advanced numbers say the 36-year-old is still spinning it.
Bassitt enters this matchup with a 3.01 expected ERA, and he’s used all those pitches effectively to keep hitters off balance, creating a lot of soft contact. He ranks in the 70th percentile of better hard-hit percentage, barrel rate, chase rate, and average exit velocity.
On top of that, he’s not walking anyone ranking in the 92nd percentile in walk rate, while having the highest strikeout rate of his career at 25.7%.
Meaning he should carve up this Angels lineup. Despite a few well timed runs in this series, Los Angeles has the third-worst batting average in the big leagues while ranking 25th in OPS and 26th in wRC+. They also have the second-highest K-rate in baseball.
Bassitt will have the Angels praying for the afterlife, just don’t bet on the Jays to hold onto any lead with the way the bullpen has performed over the last few games.
Today’s Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)
Chris Bassitt Undder 2.5 earned runs
Chris Bassitt Over 5.5 strikeouts
Anthony Santander Over 0.5 RBIs
Let’s double down on the good night for Chris Bassitt. As noted, his strikeout rate is a solid 25.7%, which ranks in the 72nd percentile among MLB pitchers and now he faces an Angels lineup that gets punched out at the second-highest rate in baseball.
We just saw Jose Berrios sit down nine batters in last night’s game. There’s no reason Bassitt can’t do the same. Lets’ add Over 5.5 strikeouts to this same-game parlay.
And let’s round out this SGP by backing Anthony Santander to drive in another run. Santander’s slow starts really are a thing, but now that it’s May, he looks like the guy the Blue Jays were hoping to get when they signed him.
After another two hits last night, the switch-hitting slugger now has a .839 OPS with three home runs and six RBIs in his last nine games.
Tonight he faces Angels’ right-hander Jose Soriano, who ranks in the 24th percentile in expected batting average, the 26th in average exit velocity, and the 19th in hard-hit percentage. I like Santander to get into one and drive in a run for a third straight game.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Live Blue Jays odds for today
How to watch the Blue Jays today
| Location | Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA |
| Date | Thursday, May 8, 2025 |
| First pitch | 9:38 p.m. ET |
| TV | Rogers Sportsnet |
| Blue Jays starting pitcher | Chris Bassitt (2-2, 2.95 ERA) |
| Angels starting pitcher | Jose Soriano (2-4, 3.83 ERA) |
Not intended for use in MA.
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