Blue Jays vs Indians 05/28/21 – Odds and MLB Betting Trends

Runs tend to be at a premium when the Toronto Blue Jays go into minus money on the road, and they do have ace Hyun-Jin Ryu working in a series opener. The Blue Jays are -164 away favorites and the Cleveland Indians are +142 home underdogs with an 8.0-run total on the MLB odds for Friday night at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com (how the moneyline works).

The Blue Jays are 11-9 in their last 20 games as an away favorite, with the total going UNDER at betting sites in eight of the last 10 such matchups. The Indians are 6-7 in their last 13 games as a home underdog, with the total going UNDER seven times. The Blue Jays are 11-11 in their last 22 away games against AL Central teams, with total finishing UNDER 13 times. The Indians are 5-11 in their last 16 home games against AL East teams, with the total going OVER nine times.

The Blue Jays, 25-24 on the season, are averaging 4.92 runs per game and their offense’s .750 OPS (on-base plus slugging) ranks sixth among the 30 MLB teams. Toronto’s hitters, however, will be facing three Cleveland starters whom they have yet to face in MLB regular-season play. The Blue Jays pitching staff ranks 15th with a 3.94 earned-run average, while the relievers’ 3.57 ERA is eighth-best.

The Indians, who have a 27-21 record, are averaging 3.98 runs per game and rank 23rd with a .672 OPS. On the mound, Cleveland’s 3.67 staff ERA is ninth in MLB and that is bolstered by the Indians’ second-best relief ERA of 2.67.

Lefthander Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-2, 2.53 ERA, 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings) will start in Friday’s matchup opposite rookie righthander Eli Morgan (0-1, 3.95 ERA, 8.6 SO/9 at Columbus of Triple-A East), who will be making his MLB debut. Ryu, who will be facing Cleveland for just the second time in his career, has helped his teams go 8-6 in his last 14 away-favorite starts with the total going UNDER 10 times.

Righthander Ross Stripling (0-3, 5.63 ERA, 10.1 SO/9), who pitched seven scoreless innings in his last appearance on May 24, will start on Saturday opposite rookie lefty Sam Hentges (1-1, 6.20 ERA, 9.7 SO/9). Stripling will also be facing Cleveland for just the second time in his career. His teams are 10-6 in his last 16 away starts, with the OVER hitting eight times with two pushes. Hentges, who will be making his fourth MLB start, has allowed a .344 / .419 / .609 batting slash line to righthanded batters through his first 20.1 MLB innings, and the Blue Jays have a righty-heavy lineup.

Lefthander Steven Matz (6-2, 4.28 ERA, 10.5 SO/9) will start in Sunday’s matchup, while Cleveland will counter with righthander Aaron Civale (7-1, 3.04 ERA, 7.0 SO/9). Matz has a 0.68 ERA in 13.1 career innings against Cleveland, and the Blue Jays are 5-1 in his last six away starts. The total has also gone UNDER in seven of Matz’s last 11 away starts. Civale, who will be facing Toronto for the first time in his career, has helped Cleveland go 9-5 in his last 14 starts at home, but the total has gone OVER in six of the last seven.

The Blue Jays have a travel day on Monday before beginning a three-game home series against the Miami Marlins at Sahlen Field in Buffalo.