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Rockies vs. Blue Jays MLB Best Bet: Toronto’s Pitching Situation Is Dubious

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays kneels on the ground at an MLB game against the Seattle Mariners at the Rogers Centre on April 9, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Kevin Sousa/Getty Images/AFP

MLB Pick: Rockies +1.5 (-125) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)

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Rockies +1.5 (-125)
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Top-rated sportsbooks have released their MLB odds for today’s game between Toronto and Colorado. I will recommend investing in the Rockies run-line.


Colorado Rockies vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Saturday, April 13, 2024 – 03:07 PM ET in Rogers Centre


Dakota Hudson

Colorado starts Dakota Hudson today. After his disappointing season last year, Hudson is bouncing back. So far, his ERA is 2.38 after two starts. He’s faced the Cubs and Rays.

Part of his improvement relates to his stronger command of his pitches: he’s allowing fewer walks and home runs and less hard contact.

Another part is the increased quality of his sinker, which is his favorite pitch to throw. This year, Hudson’s sinker has more horizontal movement than it did last year. Consequently, it yields a .231 BA and .385 slugging rate this season, whereas last season opponents hit .306 and slugged .522 against it.

Hudson vs. Blue Jays

Hudson throws a sinker, slider, fastball, changeup and curveball. He is a good bet to prolong his strong form because he matches up well against Toronto batters.

They rank dead last with a .293 slugging rate against his pitches from righties.

Toronto’s Pitching Situation

Initially, Baldwin Francis was going to start today’s game for the Blue Jays. Francis, however, has been relegated to the bullpen because he’s yielding a 12.96 ERA through two starts. Yariel Rodriguez is therefore going to start today’s game but only out of sheer necessity.

Rodriguez’s high walk rate in Triple-A baseball so far is worrisome.

Every pitcher who makes it into the majors has nice stuff. The key is to command it, which is what Rodriguez is not showing that he is able to do against even Triple-A batters. His arsenal anyhow requires development – especially since his third pitch, his splitter, is a recent addition, and starters need more than two pitches to last many innings.

For these reasons, one can’t expect much from Rodriguez. Great strain will be placed on Toronto’s bullpen as a consequence of Rodriguez’s limitations.

If Francis comes out of the bullpen, he could be even worse and less comfortable than he’s been as a starter. With these question marks and grounds for doubt in Toronto’s pitching situation, the underdog is attractive today, especially with Hudson pitching.

MLB Pick: Rockies +1.5 (-125) at BetOnline

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Rockies +1.5 (-125)
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*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.