Toronto Blue Jays lose home opener, enter as underdogs vs. Los Angeles Angels

Written By Erik Buchinger on April 9, 2021

The Toronto Blue Jays will play their second game in their current home stadium in as many nights when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, April 9. After an extra-inning loss as slight favorites on Thursday night, the Blue Jays will return to the field at 7:07 p.m. ET on Friday as the underdogs.

The future of the Blue Jays home games in 2021 is still uncertain due to travel restrictions between Canada and the United States because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After playing their home games at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York in last summer’s shortened season, Toronto started off this year playing home games at Dunedin, Florida’s TD Ballpark.

Toronto will play its first 22 home games in Florida through May 24. According to The Buffalo News, the Blue Jays are expected to return to last season’s Buffalo location at some point in June until Canada gives the go-ahead for the organization to get back to Toronto for the first time since the 2019 season.

Playing in the United States for all of 2020, the Blue Jays went 14-12 on the run line in their home games with a 17-9 moneyline record. The over hit at 15-10-1 in their 26 home games.

In Thursday night’s home opener, the Angels came away with a 7-5 victory in 11 innings with a two-run single from David Fletcher to put Los Angeles ahead for good. Toronto pitcher Ross Stripling earned the start and allowed four runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in five innings of work to pick up a no decision.

At the plate, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his hot start to the season, going 2-for-4 with a walk, three RBIs and a run scored. He knocked out a home run in the first inning to score a pair of runs. Cavan Biggio also hit a home run with a solo shot in the sixth inning.

On Friday night, Toronto will turn to T.J. Zeuch on the mound. In his lone start this season, Zeuch threw four scoreless innings on three hits and one walk with one strikeout in a victory over the New York Yankees. As of Friday morning, the Angels had yet to announce a starting pitcher, so it remains to be seen who they give the ball to for the second game of this series.

Los Angeles Angels vs. Toronto Blue Jays Betting Info

Below is a look at the major betting types for Game 2 of the four-game series including the run line, run total and moneyline bets for this matchup. All odds are via a popular United States sportsbook.

Run Line

The Blue Jays are getting -157 odds with the +1.5 run line with the Angels at +132 to cover -1.5.

Betting Trends: The Blue Jays did not cover the run line in each of their last three games, while the Angels covered once in that span.

Run Total

The over/under is set at 10.5 with a slight edge toward the over at -117 with the under at -105.

Betting Trends: The total went over in four of the Angels’ last six games, while the under cashed in five of Toronto’s last seven. The total went over in four of the last five matchups between these two teams.

Moneyline

Toronto is a slight underdog with +102 moneyline odds with the Angels at -118 to earn the victory as road favorites.

Betting Trends: The Angels are 4-1 straight up in their last five games and 7-1 in their last eight games against the Blue Jays. Toronto is 0-3 straight up in its last three games.

What’s Next?

The Blue Jays and Angels will play their third game of the four-game series at 7:07 p.m. ET on Saturday night from TD Ballpark.

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