Washington Nationals vs
Toronto Blue JaysPredictions & Preview

Toronto Blue Jays Favored Over Washington Nationals in First Game of Three-Game Series

The Toronto Blue Jays (2-2) will host the Washington Nationals (1-2) on Monday, March 31 in the first game of a three-game series at 7:07 PM EST. Last season, the Nationals won three out of four head-to-head games against the Blue Jays. Michael Soroka (ERA: 0) will start for the Nationals, while Bowden Francis (ERA: 0) will start for the Blue Jays. Toronto is the betting favorite with the opening line at -162 and the current line at Toronto -161.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Nationals +144 | Blue Jays -161
• Spread: Nationals +1.5 (-149) | Blue Jays -1.5 (+130)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Toronto will win straight-up is 62%.

Washington vs Toronto Stats

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are predicted to finish fourth in the NL East this season, ahead of only the Miami Marlins. They recently avoided a season-opening sweep by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1, with Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe hitting home runs in the win. Lowe leads the team with five RBIs and is tied with Keibert Ruiz for the team lead in home runs. Michael Soroka will make his Nationals debut on Monday, hoping to bounce back from a challenging season marked by injuries. The team is currently ranked 27th in power rankings, with a strong offense but struggling defense, and have a record of 1-2 so far this season.

Toronto Blue Jays Analysis

The Toronto Blue Jays, predicted to finish last in the AL East, earned a series split against Baltimore with a 3-1 victory. The team will now rely on Bowden Francis, their fifth starter who had a strong performance last season. Offensively, Bo Bichette and Andrés Giménez are performing well, while there are questions about the future of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Blue Jays currently have a power ranking of 21 and rank 9th in offense but 28th in defense, with an overall record of 1-2. In their recent matchups, Washington went 1-2 against Toronto.

Toronto Blue Jays poised for victory in matchup with strong lineup and pitching advantage

The Toronto Blue Jays hold a competitive advantage in this matchup due to their strong lineup featuring notable players such as Anthony Santander, George Springer, Andrés Giménez, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Additionally, Bowden Francis has showcased solid performance on the mound with a 3.40 ERA at home last season, limiting opponents to a .199 batting average. In contrast, Soroka has struggled with a 2-12 record and 5.22 ERA in the past two seasons. Based on these factors, it is recommended to favor Toronto in this particular game.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]