MLB betting preview (Aug. 8): Blue Jays vs. Dodgers predictions
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
By Greg Warren
Aug 8, 2025, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 8, 2025, 10:38 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays will open a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday after obliterating the Colorado Rockies earlier this week.
Toronto completed a three-game sweep of the lowly Rockies, who have the worst record in baseball, in Colorado earlier this week to maintain its standing as the top team in the American League East.
Los Angeles hasn’t been playing great baseball lately, dropping two of three to the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this week to drop to 5-5 in its last 10 games.
Let’s dive into the game odds for Friday’s series opener between the Blue Jays and Dodgers courtesy of bet365.
Blue Jays vs. Dodgers odds
Blue Jays moneyline odds | +120 |
Dodgers moneyline odds | -140 |
Runline odds | Dodgers -1.5 (+145), Blue Jays +1.5 (-170) |
Game total | Over 9 runs (-115), Under 9 (-105) |
Date/time | Aug. 8, 10:10 p.m. ET |
About the Blue Jays (68-48 SU, 69-47 ATS, 63-49-4 o/u)
The Blue Jays must be feeling pretty good about themselves after putting up 45 runs on 63 hits in their sweep of Colorado. In fact, the 63 hits were the most in an MLB series since 1900.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will carry a 23-game on-base streak into action Friday. He’s slashing a solid .354/.441/.615 with six homers and 16 RBIs over the last 30 days.
Now, the Blue Jays will play the toughest remaining portion of their schedule over the next couple of weeks. Following three games at Dodger Stadium this week, the Blue Jays will return home to Rogers Centre to host the Chicago Cubs (66-48) for three games and then the Texas Rangers (60-56) for three more contests.
About the Dodgers (66-49 SU, 50-65 ATS, 55-56-4 o/u)
For a team loaded with stars, the Dodgers have slightly underachieved to this point in the season. They lead the NL West by just two games over the San Diego Padres, and they’re projected to finish way short (around 95 wins) of their 104.5 season win total that oddsmakers set back in the winter.
Offensively, the Dodgers have thrived, ranking first in baseball with an average of 5.2 runs scored per game, while boasting the second-best team OPS in the majors (.770). They’ve also smashed the second most homers (170) behind the New York Yankees (182).
Pitching has been a problem to this point in the season, with the Dodgers collectively owning a 4.16 ERA (19th in the majors) and a 1.29 WHIP (21st). However, several key pitchers are now healthy, and those numbers should start trending in the right direction over the final two months of the regular season.
Probable starting pitchers
Toronto: RHP Max Scherzer (2-1, 4.39 ERA, 9.66 K/9)
Friday’s starting pitching matchup will feature a pair of future Hall of Famers. Scherzer was very good the last time he took the mound against the Kansas City Royals, holding them to one run over six innings while striking out five. He had mixed results in July, compiling a 1-1 record with a 4.91 ERA across four starts. The veteran right-hander has been brilliant throughout his career at Dodger Stadium, boasting a 1.79 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across 10 starts at the venue.
Los Angeles: LHP Clayton Kershaw (5-2, 3.29 ERA, 5.76 K/9)
Kershaw can no longer overpower hitters with his fastball, but he’s done a good job of reinventing himself into a control pitcher to extend his illustrious career. Like Scherzer, he was awesome last time out, holding the Tampa Bay Rays scoreless over six innings of work while striking out three batters. The southpaw ranks in the 92nd percentile with a 4.7% barrel rate, and his curveball remains elite, holding the opposition to a .167 batting average and .185 xBA.
Notable injuries
Outfielder Anthony Santander (shoulder), pitcher Yimi Garcia (ankle/elbow), pitcher Shane Bieber (elbow), infielder Andres Gimenez (ankle), and outfielder George Springer (concussion) are all on the injured list for Toronto. Outfielder Joey Loperfido (knee) is day-to-day.
Pitchers Tanner Scott (elbow), Kirby Yates (back), Roki Sasaki (shoulder), Brusdar Graterol (shoulder), Tony Gonsolin (elbow), and Michael Kopech (knee) are all on the injured list for the Dodgers. Position players Enrique Hernandez (elbow), Tommy Edman (ankle), and Hyeseong Kim (shoulder) are also on the shelf.
Weather
Forecasts are calling for temperatures around 25 C with clear skies. Winds will blow out to right field at 8 mph.
Blue Jays vs. Dodgers betting trends
- The Dodgers are 7-3 in the past 10 meetings.
- The over is 9-2 in Toronto’s last 11 games.
- The under is 11-1-1 in the Dodgers’ last 13 games.
- The Dodgers are just 24-35 on the runline at home this season.
- Toronto has the best record on the runline (69-47) in the majors this season.
Blue Jays vs. Dodgers player prop trends
- Shohei Ohtani has hit safely in six straight games and 16 of his last 20. He’s -255 to get a hit.
- Freddie Freeman has beaten his line of over 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs in nine straight games and is -130 to accomplish the feat again on Friday.
- Guerrero Jr. has homered in back-to-back games and in four of his last 10. He’s around +325 to go deep.
- Nathan Lukes has driven in at least one run in four straight games and seven of his last 10. He’s +185 to record at least one RBI.
- Bo Bichette has scored at least one run in four straight games and six of his last 10. He’s +105 to plate against the Dodgers.
Blue Jays vs. Dodgers best bets
- Game total over 8.5 runs: -125 for one unit (best odds @ Bet99). Toronto’s bats couldn’t be any hotter entering this series, and Los Angeles is one of the best offensive teams in baseball. Yes, we have two future Hall of Famers on the mound in this spot, but they’re certainly not pitching at elite levels anymore in the twilight of their careers. Add in the fact that we have favourable weather conditions for batters at a hitter-friendly venue, and these teams should have no problem combining to score at least nine runs on Friday night.
- Bo Bichette over 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs: -165 for one unit (best odds @ bet365). We’re eating some juice on this line, but there’s strong evidence to suggest it’s worth it. Bichette has cleared this line in 17 of his last 20 games and is averaging 2.5 hits + runs + RBIs per game this season. He’s also tearing the cover off the ball right now, slashing a ridiculous .400/.432/.638 with 15 runs scored and 26 RBIs over the past 30 days. And if you aren’t convinced yet, he’s 2-for-3 with a pair of homers in three career at-bats against Kershaw.