Blue Jays (21-14) at Philadelphia (16-19)
When: Tuesday, May 9th 2023
Where: Citizens Bank Park,
Philadelphia, PA
Time: 6:40 ET | TV: mlb.tv
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -110/8.5
The Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies will begin a two-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night after both teams were off on Monday. Toronto snapped a five-game losing streak by sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates in three games on the road over the weekend and are now seven games over .500. Unfortunately, they are still seven games out of first place behind the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays.
Pitching was a major issue during the losing streak. The staff allowed 42 runs in the five losses, but rebounded nicely against Pittsburgh by surrendering just three runs total. Whit Merrifield, Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier each homered in Sunday’s 10-1 victory, while Brandon Belt went 6-for-9 with three doubles and three walks in the series. Belt entered the weekending hitting just .161.
The Phillies snapped a five-game losing streak with Sunday’s 6-1 win over the Boston Red Sox to avoid a sweep. Just like Toronto, Philly endured a losing streak of their own. In the previous six games before Sunday – all losses – the Phillies allowed 52 runs, but Taijuan Walker and the bullpen shut down Boston in the finale.
These teams met four times in 2022, with each team winning two including a wild 18-11 Toronto victory in late September in Philadelphia. Aaron Nola takes the mound on Tuesday against Alek Manoah. The Phillies are slight -110 favorites with a total of 8.5. The Over is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings at Citizens Bank Park.
Pitchers: Blue Jays – Alek Manoah (1-2, 4.71) | Phillies – Aaron Nola (2-2, 4.64)
Manoah is coming off a rough outing against the Red Sox last week, allowing eight hits and five runs – two earned – in five innings. This will be Manoah’s first-ever regular-season start vs. the Phillies. In his final spring outing on March 24 in Dunedin, he allowed one run over six innings against the Phillies.
Nola has faced the Blue Jays four times in his career and is 0-0 with a high 5.48 ERA. The struggling righty is coming off a bad outing at Dodger Stadium in which he surrendered seven hits and four runs over 6 1/3 innings. Belt is 6-for-10 off Nola with a double and homer. Nola carries a 7.20 ERA in three home starts this season.
Neither starter is having a good start to the season and the Phillies have one of the worst bullpens in the league. The Over is 7-1 in the Blue Jays’ last eight games with an offense that is on fire. This should be a slugfest.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today.
Pick: OVER 8.5 -115
