The Ronel Blanco story is an awesome one. Throwing a no-hitter in just his eighth career start as a 30-year-old.
Toronto Blue Jays fans may look at Monday night’s boxscore through a different lens. They see a team that struggled to score runs when it mattered most and a front office that did nothing to address the issue in the offseason.
So, how will they respond in Game 2 against the Houston Astros as small MLB odds underdogs? I break it all down and bring you the best bet in my MLB picks and predictions for Blue Jays vs. Astros.
Blue Jays vs Astros odds
Blue Jays vs Astros predictions
A couple of offseasons ago, the Toronto Blue Jays front office decided that to make the next step was to sacrifice offense for pitching and defense.
Well, following another hasty postseason exit which saw them score just one run in two games, seeing former Jays like Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Matt Chapman all smashing baseball to start the season, the feeling has not been mutual. And getting no-hit last night may have sent some Jays over the edge.
But should we really be surprised with the way the lineup fills out these days, particularly if Bo Bichette, who is dealing with neck spasms is out.
There is no word on Bichette’s status for tonight, who has missed the last two games, but neck spasms don’t sound like something that a hitter can remedy in a day or two.
With no Bichette, this lineup looks, well, pretty pitiful after you get past the 3-hole. Hitting Davis Schnieder or Daulton Varsho at cleanup is less than optimal. This lineup just doesn’t know where the production will come from, which has shown through the first five games.
When everything is going great, Toronto can do some damage. They scored 17 runs in two games against the Tampa Bay Rays but have plated just three runs in the other three games combined.
Toronto’s uninspiring lineup faces Framber Valdez tonight. Blue Jays hitters have just a .216 average vs. the Houston Astros lefthander. Combine that with solid starting pitching, which is the one thing they do have, and the struggles of the Jays’ bats can be our gains in the form of Under bets.
The Blue Jays hand the ball to Jose Berrios. The right-hander got his 2024 campaign off on the right foot limiting the Tampa Bay Rays to two runs on six hits over six innings. In two starts against the Astros last season he held them to four runs on seven hits over 13 innings.
I like the first-half of this game to be low scoring and am taking Under 4.5 in the first five innings.
My best bet: Under 4.5 First Five Innings (-115 at PROLINE+)
Blue Jays star player prop
Justin Turner, Over 0.5 RBIs (+170)
Despite last night’s donut, it hasn’t taken Justin Turner long to show the Blue Jays his value. The best way to describe Turner is that he’s a professional hitter.
The 39-year-old is still productive and is already an import part of this Jays team. He has four hits which includes two doubles and a dinger and four runs batted in, which leads the team, over his last four games.
Last season, he hit .285 with a .900 OPS vs. left-handed pitchers and now without Bo Bichette in the lineup he’s hitting third in the Blue Jays lineup. That should, big emphasis on should there, mean that Turner will have a couple of opportunities to drive in some runs tonight.
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Blue Jays vs Astros moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- The Blue Jays hit the board for this American Leauge matchup as +125 road underdogs and after getting no-hit last night, early bettors are fading them with the odds listing Toronto in the +130 range.
- Game 2 of this series should be more of a pitchers duel with Jose Berrios toeing the rubber against Framber Valdez and gives the Jays a little value as an underdog.
- The total opened at 9 and has been bet down to 8.5.
- The Under is 4-2-1 in the last seven meetings between these AL teams dating back to last season and went 1-0-1 when Berrios started.
Trend to know
The Blue Jays have hit the 1st Five Innings Team Total Under in 18 of their last 26 games dating back to last season for +9.66 Units and a 31% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Astros
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Blue Jays vs Astros game info
| Location: | Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX |
| Date: | Tuesday, April 2, 2024 |
| First pitch: | 8:10 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Sportsnet, SCHN2 |
Starting pitchers
Jose Berrios (1-0, 3.00 ERA): Berrios carried his momentum from 2023 into the 2024 opener. The right-hander allowed two earned runs on six hits while striking out six over six innings against the Rays on Opening Day.
Framber Valdez (0-0, 5.79 ERA): Valdez battled his control on Opening Day, surrendering six walks to the New York Yankees. It's almost a miracle the lefty allowed only three run on five hits over 4 2/3 innings.
