Editor’s note: All betting lines are from Bet365 and are current as of publication. Money Line: Blue Jays -200 | Rangers +170 Run Line: Blue Jays -1.5 (-105) | Rangers +1.5 (-115) Total: 9.5 – Above (+105) 9.5 – Under (-125) Toronto: The Blue Jays had to work hard to avoid another defeat at home to start their season at the Rogers Center, after going through yesterday’s game with 1-9 against the last 10 games. But what about the second game of the season? Toronto scored 3-5 with a difference of +4 consecutive games in their last eight games after the start of their home in Toronto. The Jays, however, have a hot 7-1 record in their last eight meetings with Texas at the Rogers Center. The Blue Jays are also 5-0 in their last five games against the American League West and 12-4 in their last 16 games as a home favorite. Texas: The Rangers took a seven-point lead, which was in the script the last time he was an underdog. Texas has been brutal lately as a dog, scoring an abysmal 16-42 in its last 56 fights as an underdog. Oh, it gets worse! The Rangers are a rotten 15-50 in the last 65 road races in total. They also had games against the American League East recently winning 3-13 in the last 16 against the league. My choice: If you are in the momentum, the Blue Jays want to get into today’s game after yesterday’s return win. Kevin Gausman made his Toronto debut and was wiped out in his only appearance at Spring Training last week and had some success against Texas in his career. I’ll drive the wave of comeback victory from last night, and the fact that the Jays hold the Rangers recently and the Blue Jays here at -1.5 at -105. Total: The Blue Jays and Rangers had 17 hits and 18 innings in total last season and the first game in the series jumped over the 9.0 that closed. Although the Jays were one of the best teams in the under last season, the over was the game lately when they face Texas. The over is 6-2-2 in the last 10 meetings between these teams at the Rogers Center. The over is 7-1 in the last eight games of Texas as an underdog and 22-10-2 in the last 34 road races with the total set being 9.0 to 10.5. Pitching matchup: RHP Kevin Gausman (14-6, 2.81 ERA) makes his debut as Blue Jay while RHP Dane Dunning (5-10, 4.51 ERA) fights for Texas. Gausmann has a 3-2 record with 2.83 SEASON and 38 hits in seven appearances in his career against the Rangers. The Toronto right-back last faced Texas on July 29, 2017, while with Baltimore they achieved 8.2 innings from seven shutout hits. Gausman dazzled in his only appearance last spring, conceding just three hits and two wins in 6.0 innings against the Tigers. Dunning, meanwhile, allowed a three-hit run with six hits in five appearances in the only start to his career against the Blue Jays last April in Arlington. The right-hand man, however, drove the race coach on the road last season, winning 0-7 with 6.39 ERA away from home in 12 starts.
Player Garbage: Total player bases Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1.5 – Above -155 | 1.5 – Below -125) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. started the 2022 season well, winning 2-4 with two RBIs in yesterday’s win over Texas. Guerrero Jr., however, has 0-2 in two appearances with Dane Dunning in his career. Corey Seager (1.5 – Over +100 | 1.5 – Under -140) Corey Seager was 2-for-4 with a ride in his Rangers debut last night. Seager was successful against Kevin Gausman in his career with an impressive 0.429 / .600 / .571. The Texas shortstop is a 3-for-7 with RBI in 10 plate appearances against Toronto right-wingers. My choice: I think there is value here for Corey Seager with his previous success against Kevin Gausman in his career. Seager’s 0.600 base when facing Gausman is why I will bite and get Seager and his total bases to exceed 1.5 at +110.