White Sox vs Blue Jays 08/23/21 – Odds and MLB Betting Trends

The Toronto Blue Jays are in an offensive slump as they open a new series against a division leader and a Cy Young Award candidate. The Blue Jays are -105 home underdogs and the Chicago White Sox are -115 away favorites with an 8.5-run total on the MLB odds for Monday at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com (how the moneyline works).

The Blue Jays are 11-8 in their last 19 matchups as an underdog at home, with the total going UNDER in six of the last nine matchups at betting sites. The White Sox are 13-7 in their last 20 games as an away favorite, with seven of the last 10 finishing UNDER. In terms of inter-divisional trends, the Blue Jays are 7-3 at home this season against AL Central teams. The total has gone UNDER in seven of those 10 matchups with two pushes. The White Sox are 4-6 in their last 10 away games against the AL East, with the OVER hitting in five of their last six.

The AL Central-leading White Sox boast an 72-53 record, which includes an 18-17 mark since the all-star break. They are seventh in MLB in runs per game (4.94) and ninth in OPS (.749). Luis Robert (1.015 OPS in his last nine games) has been on a tear since rejoining Chicago’s lineup, and José Abreu (.894 OPS) and Andrew Vaughn (.836) have been the White Sox’s most productive hitters since the all-star break.

The White Sox have the fourth-best starting pitcher ERA (3.44) and 12th-best reliever ERA (3.99). They have the 10th-best ERA (3.81) since the all-star break.

The Blue Jays have a 64-58 record, including a 19-16 record since the all-star break. They are fourth in MLB in runs per game (5.10) and first in OPS (.783). However, they are six-for-68 (.088 batting average) with runners in scoring position so far in August and have scored only seven runs across the first three games of their homestand. Teoscar Hernández (1.066 OPS since July 16), Marcus Semien (.864) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.815) have been Toronto’s three best batters since the all-star break.

On the mound, the Blue Jays have the ninth-best starting pitcher ERA (3.75) and the 15th-ranked reliever ERA (4.14). They also have the ninth-best ERA (3.71) so far in the second half of the season.

Rookie righthander Alek Manoah (5-2, 3.34 ERA, 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings) will start for the Blue Jays on Monday, opposite White Sox righthander Lance Lynn (10-3, 2.26 ERA, 10.3 SO/9). Manoah, who pitched five innings of one-run ball in his first outing this season against Chicago, has helped the total finish UNDER in three of his last four starts where the Blue Jays were underdogs. Lynn, who is third in the American League in wins above replacement for pitchers, has a 4.73 ERA in 40 career innings against the Blue Jays. The White Sox are 5-2 in his last seven road starts with the OVER hitting five times.

Righthander José Berríos (8-6, 3.52 ERA, 9.1 SO/9) will start on Tuesday against White Sox righty Dylan Cease (9-6, 4.06 ERA, 11.7 SO/9). Berríos has a 2.91 ERA in 126.2 career innings against the White Sox, and his teams are 9-6 in his last 15 home starts with the total going UNDER eight times. The White Sox are 5-3 in Cease’s last eight away starts, with the OVER hitting six times. Cease will be facing Toronto for the first time in his career.

Lefthander Robbie Ray (9-5, 2.79 ERA, 11.0 SO/9) will start on Wednesday opposite White Sox righty Lucas Giolito (9-9, 3.79 ERA, 10.3 SO/9). Ray, who is facing the White Sox for the first time in his career, has had the total go UNDER in six of his last nine starts at home. Giolito, who has a 3.86 ERA in 16.1 career innings against the Blue Jays, has had the total go OVER in nine of his last 12 away starts.

Lefthander Hyun Jin Ryu (12-6, 3.54 ERA, 7.1 SO/9) will start on Thursday, while Chicago’s starter has not been announced. The Blue Jays are 5-1 in Ryu’s last six starts at home, and the total has gone OVER in 13 of his last 20 home starts.

The Blue Jays’ next series is a three-game road set against the Detroit Tigers that begins on Friday.