We have a busy betting slate to kick off the second half of the Major League Baseball season today, including the series opener between the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants.
Fading Justin Verlander hasn't been profitable throughout his career, but at age 42, it’s proving to be the right play. My Blue Jays predictions expect that trend to continue tonight against one of the best lineups in baseball.
Find out why with my free MLB picks for this Friday, July 18 matchup.
Blue Jays predictions for July 18
- Best bet
Justin Verlander Over 5.5 hits allowed
(-120 at BetVictor) - SGP pick
Justin Verlander Over 5.5 hits allowed
George Springer Over 0.5 home runs
Bo Bichette Over 0.5 hits
(+725 at BetVictor)
Today’s Blue Jays best bet: Hit parade in Toronto
Justin Verlander Over 5.5 hits allowed (-120 at BetVictor)
Father Time catches up to everyone eventually, and it appears it’s finally come for Justin Verlander in his age-42 season.
Verlander has been one of the best pitchers in the last two decades, but has yet to record a win in 15 starts this season for the San Francisco Giants. He's sporting a 4.70 ERA while allowing 5.53 hits per game on average.
His posted total is set at 5.5 tonight, and with the Jays' offense surging over the last few weeks, I’m taking the Over on this hits prop.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the best hitting teams in baseball this season, recording the fifth-most hits with the second-highest batting average. Furthermore, they’ve averaged 8.8 hits per game over their final 10 outings heading into the All-Star break.
As for Verlander, he’s given up seven hits in back-to-back starts and three of his last five games, allowing an average of 6.2 hits per start over that stretch.
Teams are batting .278 against Verlander, who sports a 10.4% barrel rate, ranking him in the 16th percentile in that metric. His .276 xBA ranks in the 21st percentile.
The Verlander decline is real, and teams are finding ways to make contact against him with regularity this year. I expect the Jays to be the latest team to solve the future Hall of Famer.
Today’s Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)
Justin Verlander Over 5.5 hits allowed
George Springer Over 0.5 home runs
Bo Bichette Over 0.5 hits
George Springer is 6-for-16 against Verlander over his career with two home runs and a 1.162 OPS. Springer also has a .668 xSLG-rate against four-seam fastballs this season, the pitch that Verlander throws 47% of the time.
Bo Bichette has a hit in nine straight games and is battting .290 against righties this season, while ranking in the 100th percentile in xBA this season.
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Live Blue Jays odds for today
How to watch the Blue Jays today
| Location | Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON |
| Date | Friday, July 18, 2025 |
| First pitch | 7:07 p.m. ET |
| TV | Rogers Sportsnet |
| Blue Jays starting pitcher | Chris Bassitt (9-4, 4.12 ERA) |
| Giants starting pitcher | Justin Verlander (0-7, 4.70 ERA) |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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