The Toronto Blue Jays go for a series win as +140 road underdogs against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, and they draw a huge opportunity in Aaron Nola, one of the worst starters in baseball this year.
Max Scherzer takes the ball for Toronto, but my card is all about attacking Nola, starting with Alejandro Kirk.
Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks for this Saturday, Aug. 8 matchup.
Blue Jays vs Phillies predictions
Blue Jays vs Phillies best bet: Alejandro Kirk Over 1.5 total bases (+130)
The Toronto Blue Jays have a great chance to hit against Philadelphia Phillies starter Aaron Nola, who has been one of baseball’s worst arms this year.
Nola has allowed an MLB-leading 28 home runs, and hitters are teeing off on his fastball. Normally I’d lean on Kazuma Okamoto, the club’s best fastball hitter, but he went 0-for-5 on Friday, so I’m turning to Alejandro Kirk and his contact-heavy profile.
Kirk does a great job thumping fastballs the other way, and he’s locked in, with 12 hits in his last 10 games and an .804 OPS over that stretch. I like his chances to rack up two hits against Nola’s hittable pitches, or better yet, to double to right field.
I’d play this down to +110.
COVERS INTEL: Nola’s four-seam fastball carries a -13 run value and yields a .727 slugging mark, arguably the worst pitch in baseball and right in the wheelhouse of a fastball hitter like Kirk.
Blue Jays vs Phillies same-game parlay (SGP)
For the same-game parlay, I’m all-in on a high-scoring night. George Springer Over 0.5 hits leads it off, and he’s blistering hot with 14 hits in his last 13 games.
I’ll add Over 9.5 total runs, with Scherzer and Nola both carrying ugly ERAs on a hot night at a bandbox, then cap it with the Blue Jays moneyline at plus money.
Blue Jays vs Phillies SGP
- George Springer Over 0.5 hits
- Blue Jays moneyline
- Over 9.5
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Blue Jays vs Phillies home run pick: Jesus Sanchez (+390)
Jesus Sanchez has become a reliable power threat since returning from an ankle injury, going 3-for-12 with a home run and a double.
He came off the bench on Friday and picked up a hit, and I love his upside on Saturday against Nola.
As noted, no pitcher in baseball allows more home runs than Nola, so Sanchez, with his uppercut left-handed swing, has a great shot to clear the wall at Citizens Bank Park.
Watch the four-seamer in particular, a pitch he slugs .514 against, and note that five of his seven homers have come off fastballs. Keep this to a quarter unit, even against Nola.
- Best bets: 16-15, +0.63 units
- SGPs: 3-29, -4.31 units
- HR picks: 4-27, -1.88 units
Blue Jays vs Phillies odds
- Moneyline: Blue Jays +140 | Phillies -160
- Run line: Blue Jays +1.5 (-140) | Phillies -1.5 (+120)
- Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Blue Jays vs Phillies trend
Max Scherzer (7.92 ERA) and Aaron Nola (5.55 ERA) carry two of the ugliest ERAs among Saturday’s starters, pointing toward the Over 9.5. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Phillies.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Phillies and game info
| Location | Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA |
| Date | Saturday, August 8, 2026 |
| First pitch | 6:05 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBCSP, SN |
| Blue Jays starting pitcher | Max Scherzer (1-4, 7.92 ERA) |
| Phillies starting pitcher | Aaron Nola (3-9, 5.55 ERA) |
Blue Jays vs Phillies latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Phillies weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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