Here’s something this writer hasn’t done in two years: Preview an MLB from Toronto! The Blue Jays host the Chicago White Sox on Monday to open a series. Which way to lean at BMR’s top-rated books?
Chicago White Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Monday, August 23, 2021 07:07 PM EDT at Rogers Centre
This opens a four-game series between the teams and is Chicago’s first visit to Toronto since 2019. When the Jays were in the Windy City in June, the Pale Hose won two of three.
Tim Anderson and Leury Garcia were both 3-for-10 in the series. Garcia is currently on the injured list, though. Anderson may not play here, either. The Sox hit .232 as a team and scored 13 runs. Bo Bichette was 5-for-12 in the series for the Jays, but superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is second on the AL MVP odds at BMR’s top-rated books, was just 2-for-9 with four strikeouts. The Jays hit .235 as a team and scored nine runs.
Chicago also has won nine of its past 13 trips to Toronto on the MLB odds.
CY Young Favorite on Mound for Sox
In a way, the White Sox have very little to play for the rest of the season. They are going to win the AL Central with a massive lead and are -20000 on the MLB odds to do so. It’s pretty unlikely they catch Tampa Bay for the AL’s best record so the key is to simply stay healthy the rest of the way before the postseason begins. The Sox will make the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time in franchise history.
No. 1 catcher Yasmani Grandal has been on the injured list since early July due to knee surgery but is very close to a return – just not sure it will happen by Monday. Shortstop and leadoff man Tim Anderson has missed the past couple of games with sore legs. The former AL batting champion is really the catalyst to that lineup and batting .303 with 14 homers, 51 RBIs and 17 steals.
The -165 favorite on the MLB odds to win the AL Cy Young Award is White Sox righty Lance Lynn (10-3) and he’s on the mound here. His last outing Wednesday vs. Oakland was rather interesting as Lynn was ejected after getting the final out in the top of the fourth inning after tossing his belt to umpires from the dugout during a foreign-substance inspection. Lynn is lucky he didn’t get suspended. Players are getting frustrated with these umpire checks, but you can’t throw stuff at them.
Lynn leads the AL in ERA (2.26), opponents average (.199), slugging (.323) and OPS (.588). He took a no-decision against the Blue Jays on June 9, allowing one run and four hits over seven innings. The Jays’ Marcus Semien hits him well career, going 8-for-22 with three doubles and a homer. Guerrero Jr. is 2-for-8 with a double. Lynn is 1-3 with a 4.73 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) vs. Toronto.
Chicago has rather amazingly won seven straight series openers.
Jays’ Manoah Al Rookie of Year Candidate
Toronto is a good team at 64-58 but barring a miracle will not reach the playoffs – look out next year, though. The Jays were in the thick of the wild-card hunt a couple of weeks ago but have slumped of late. They lost two of three at home over the weekend against the Tigers. Closer Jordan Romano wasn’t available Sunday because he had pitched the previous two games and it was costly as fill-in closer Tayler Saucedo blew the save. Wasn’t really on him, though, as a Marcus Semien throwing error was the killer in the ninth inning.
The Jays have three regulars on the injured list in catcher Danny Jansen, third baseman Cavan Biggio and outfielder George Springer – Springer has been a free-agent bust so far as the former World Series MVP for the Astros has been limited to just 49 games due to injury. Funny how guys get injury-prone after landing a huge contract.
It’s rookie right-hander Alek Manoah (5-2, 3.34) making his 13th big-league start for Toronto. He has been largely excellent but was rocked last time out at Washington, allowing seven runs in three innings. The 23-year-old might have had things on his mind, however, as he was soon after placed on the bereavement list but activated off that Sunday.
Manoah took a no-decision at the White Sox on June 9, allowing two runs (one earned) over five innings. Tim Anderson (if he plays), is 1-for-3 with a double off him. The Blue Jays are 10-4 on the MLB odds in their past 14 at home.
MLB pick: Blue Jays at +1.5 (-160) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*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.
