[8:07 PM] Orioles @ Blue Jays

Who will WIN this matchup?

Baltimore Orioles (89-73)

@ Toronto Blue Jays (89-73)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Tillman (BAL): 16-6; 3.77 ERA

Stroman (TOR) 9-10; 4.77 ERA

 

Last 10 Games Played:

Baltimore Orioles: 7-3

Toronto Blue Jays: 6-4

 

Current odds:

Baltimore Orioles: (+135)

Toronto Blue Jays: (-145)

 

• ESPN simulations have Toronto as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Toronto to win as (XX) favorites.

• The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles did what they needed to do on the last weekend of the regular season and earned the two American League wild-card spots with identical 89-73 records. The Blue Jays edged the Orioles 10-9 in the season series, earning the right to host the one-game playoff Tuesday to determine which team advances to the AL Division Series to face the top-seeded Texas Rangers.

• Tillman is the nominal ace of the Baltimore staff but is winless in his last three starts while failing to complete six innings in each of those outings. The California native could not get out of the second frame against Boston on Sept. 22 but was better at Toronto on Wednesday, when he allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Tillman is 5-10 with a 5.44 ERA in 24 career starts against the Blue Jays.

• Toronto burned its top two starters in ace Aaron Sanchez and right-hander Marco Estrada over the weekend at Boston in order to clinch and instead turns to Marcus Stroman. The Duke product went 1-0 with a 4.19 ERA in the playoffs last season and finished the 2016 campaign by allowing three or fewer earned runs in five of his last six starts. The outlier in that bunch came Thursday against Baltimore, when he was reached for four runs on nine hits and two walks in seven innings.

• The Blue Jays qualified for the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since winning the World Series in 1992 and 1993.

• Orioles LHP Zach Britton converted all 47 of his save opportunities in the regular season with five versus Toronto, tossing eight scoreless innings over seven appearances against the Blue Jays.

• Baltimore CF Adam Jones enters the postseason in a 7-for-51 slump with one extra-base hit in his last 12 games.

StreakSmarts Pick: Toronto Blue Jays

Confidence: 5/10

Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Previous Pick
Next Pick