Blue Jays vs Mariners 08/13/21 – Odds and MLB Betting Trends

The wild card for Blue Jays bettors is that Toronto is relying on two lefthanders who have never pitched in Seattle before, but they will start a road series with a pitcher who has delivered value on the road of late. The Blue Jays are -173 away favorites and the Seattle Mariners are +148 home underdogs with a 8.5-run total on the MLB odds for Friday at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com (how the moneyline works).

Toronto has a 14-6 record in its last 20 games as an away favorite and the OVER has hit 11 times. However, Seattle is also 14-6 over its last 20 matchups as an underdog at home, with the OVER hitting 12 times.

The Blue Jays’ 62-52 record includes a 17-9 mark since the all-star break. Their offense is third in run scoring (5.18 per game) and first in OPS (.786). Since July 16, George Springer (1.226 OPS), Teoscar Hernández (.976) and Marcus Semien (.877) have been the most productive Blue Jays hitters, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.774) has plateaued.

Toronto is eighth in starting pitcher ERA (3.74) and 12th in reliever ERA (3.96). The Blue Jays, overall, have the fourth-best ERA (3.29) since the all-star break.

The Mariners are 61-55, but just 13-12 since the all-star break. Their offense is 22nd in run scoring (4.16 per game) and 28th in OPS (.680). Kyle Seager (.880 OPS since July 16), Ty France (.872) and Mitch Haniger (.822) have been Seattle’s leading hitters over the last four weeks. Haniger is also Seattle’s best hitter against lefthanders (.896 OPS).

Seattle is 21st in starting pitcher ERA (4.61) and 13th in reliever ERA (3.97). The Mariners are also 13th in ERA (4.06) since the all-star break.

Lefthander Robbie Ray (9-5, 2.90 ERA, 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings) will start for the Blue Jays on Friday, opposite Mariners righthander Chris Flexen (10-5, 3.81 ERA, 6.1 SO/9). Toronto is 5-1 in its last six games when it was an away favorite with Ray starting, and the last four such matchups have finished UNDER. Ray has a 3.91 ERA in 23 career innings against Seattle. The Mariners are 4-5 in their last nine games as a home underdog with Flexen on the mound, with the OVER hitting five times. Flexen was charged with a defeat against the Blue Jays on June 29, and the OVER hit in that one.

Lefthander Hyun Jin Ryu (11-5, 3.62 ERA, 7.3 SO/9) will start on Saturday, while fellow lefty Yusei Kikuchi (7-6, 3.73 ERA, 9.7 SO/9) will start for the Mariners. Ryu has helped the Blue Jays go 8-1 over his last nine away starts, but five of the last six have finished OVER. Ryu, who is pitching in Seattle for the first time in his career, allowed four runs in as many innings against the Mariners at home on July 1. The Mariners are 7-13 in Kikuchi’s last 20 starts at home, but he has a 0.56 ERA in 16 career innings against the Blue Jays. Twelve of his last 20 home starts have finished UNDER.

Lefthander Steven Matz (9-7, 4.28 ERA, 9.3 SO/9) will start on Sunday, while rookie righthander Logan Gilbert (5-3, 4.05 ERA, 10.3 SO/9) will start for the Mariners. The Blue Jays are 2-4 in Matz’s last six away starts, although four have finished UNDER. Like Ryu, Matz will be making his first start in Seattle, and he had a short outing against the Mariners on June 30. The Blue Jays will be getting their first exposure to Gilbert, who has helped Seattle go 5-3 in his home starts, with five matchups finishing OVER at online sports betting sites.

The Blue Jays have an off-day on Monday before completing their road swing with a two-game interleague matchup against the Washington Nationals.