Toronto (12-5) at NY Yankees (8-8)
When: Thursday, April 19th 2018
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Time: 6:35 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: New York -130/9
There have been many surprises in the first few weeks of the MLB season – Giancarlo Stanton’s slump is one of them – but one not many are talking about are the Toronto Blue Jays. Predicted to finish third or worse in the A.L. East, the Jays have won 10 of their last 12 games after dropping the first two at home to the New York Yankees. They will travel to the Bronx and begin a four-game weekend series Thursday night at Yankee Stadium as Aaron Sanchez opposes CC Sabathia. Toronto just completed a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 15-5 triumph on Wednesday to extend its winning streak to four games. Teoscar Hernández went 4-for-6 with a homer, triple and four RBIs and Curtis Granderson capped the rout with a grand slam as the Blue Jays outscored Kansas City 31-12 in the series. Blue Jays DH Kendrys Morales (hamstring) is expected to come off the disabled list Friday but 3B Josh Donaldson may not be ready until next week. Stanton was hitless in four at-bats in Tuesday’s 9-1 loss to visiting Miami, dipping his batting average at Yankee Stadium to .086 (3-for-35) with 20 strikeouts. Stanton started the season with two home runs in Toronto as the Yankees split the four games to start the year. Right fielder Aaron Judge was 3-for-15 in the opening series at Toronto but hit in every game since until going 0-for-2 on Tuesday.
Pitchers: Blue Jays – Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 3.66 ERA) | Yankees – CC Sabathia (0-0, 4.00)
Sanchez took the loss at home in his season debut against New York, allowing four runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings, but has been solid since. He’s coming off a masterful eight-inning gem of one-run ball against the Orioles after allowing three runs on six hits over six innings in a no-decision versus the Chicago White Sox. Didi Gregorius is 5-for-13 against Sanchez, but he’s held leadoff hitter Brett Gardner in-check (2-for-16).
Sabathia will make his third start after coming off the disabled list and being held back a few days for his start tonight against the Blue Jays. He started the game the Yankees lost against the Blue Jays on March 31st, but came away with a no-decision, pitching five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. Sabathia escaped with another no-decision despite giving up three homers in four innings at Baltimore in his latest outing. Justin Smoak is 10-for-29 with two home runs against the hefty lefty.
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Right now, the Yankees big bats are cold, while the Blue Jays are rolling into this series. I don’t like taking pitchers coming off the DL, so look for Toronto to hit Sabathia and add to their winning streak.
Pick: Blue Jays +138
BETTING TRENDS:
- Blue Jays are 5-0 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Blue Jays are 6-1 in their last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Blue Jays are 6-1 in their last 7 overall.
- Blue Jays are 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
- Blue Jays are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. American League East.
- Blue Jays are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
- Blue Jays are 6-2 in their last 8 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Blue Jays are 1-4 in their last 5 Thursday games.
- Blue Jays are 5-1 in Sanchez’s last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Blue Jays are 2-5 in Sanchez’s last 7 starts vs. American League East.
- Blue Jays are 2-5 in Sanchez’s last 7 starts.
- Blue Jays are 1-4 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Yankees are 43-17 in their last 60 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Yankees are 10-4 in their last 14 during game 1 of a series.
- Yankees are 9-4 in their last 13 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Yankees are 35-17 in their last 52 home games.
- Yankees are 45-22 in their last 67 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Yankees are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. American League East.
- Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 Thursday games.
- Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Yankees are 5-0 in Sabathia’s last 5 Thursday starts.
- Yankees are 5-1 in Sabathia’s last 6 home starts.
- Yankees are 14-5 in Sabathia’s last 19 starts vs. American League East.
- Yankees are 11-4 in Sabathia’s last 15 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Yankees are 13-5 in Sabathia’s last 18 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Yankees are 40-17 in Sabathia’s last 57 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Yankees are 53-24 in Sabathia’s last 77 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 4-0 in Blue Jays last 4 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 6-1 in Blue Jays last 7 Thursday games.
- Under is 8-2 in Blue Jays last 10 vs. American League East.
- Under is 33-13-5 in Blue Jays last 51 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 50-24-6 in Blue Jays last 80 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 7-0 in Sanchez’s last 7 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 9-1-1 in Sanchez’s last 11 starts with 8 or more days of rest.
- Under is 16-5 in Sanchez’s last 21 starts on grass.
- Under is 19-7-1 in Sanchez’s last 27 road starts.
- Under is 19-7-1 in Sanchez’s last 27 starts vs. American League East.
- Under is 38-15-1 in Sanchez’s last 54 starts overall.
- Under is 21-10 in Sanchez’s last 31 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Yankees last 4 Thursday games.
- Over is 5-0 in Yankees last 5 home games.
- Over is 6-0 in Yankees last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Over is 5-0-1 in Yankees last 6 vs. American League East.
- Over is 4-0-1 in Yankees last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 11-1-1 in Yankees last 13 overall.
- Over is 7-1 in Yankees last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-1 in Yankees last 6 games following an off day.
- Over is 13-3-1 in Yankees last 17 on grass.
- Over is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 20-8-2 in Yankees last 30 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 10-4 in Yankees last 14 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 5-1 in Sabathia’s last 6 starts with 12 or more days of rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Sabathia’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 4-1 in Sabathia’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Sabathia’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Under is 11-4-1 in Sabathia’s last 16 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 19-7-1 in Sabathia’s last 27 starts overall.
- Under is 16-6-2 in Sabathia’s last 24 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 25-10-2 in Sabathia’s last 37 starts vs. American League East.
- Under is 7-3 in Sabathia’s last 10 Thursday starts.
- Under is 22-10-2 in Sabathia’s last 34 home starts.
- Under is 4-0 in Sabathia’s last 4 starts vs. Blue Jays.
- Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
- Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in New York.
- Yankees are 3-9 in Sabathia’s last 12 starts vs. Blue Jays.
