Toronto Blue Jays vs
Pittsburgh PiratesPredictions & Preview

Pittsburgh Pirates Favored to Win Against Toronto Blue Jays in Interleague Series Opener

The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to secure the series lead as they travel to PNC Park on Monday night to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of their three-game interleague series. The Blue Jays, with a record of 73-52, will have Kevin Gausman on the mound with a 8-9 record and 3.79 ERA, while the 52-72 Pirates will be starting Paul Skenes, who holds a 7-9 record and 2.13 ERA. Toronto has a strong history against Pittsburgh, winning 9 of their last 10 games. Stay tuned to see which team comes out on top in this Blue Jays vs. Pirates matchup. Please note that this preview was written before Sunday's game was played.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Blue Jays +102 | Pirates -116
• Spread: Blue Jays +1.5 (-220) | Pirates -1.5 (+180)
• Total: Over/Under 7 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Pittsburgh will win straight-up is 54%.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have had a successful week, winning five of their last seven games and extending their lead in the AL East to five games over Boston. They are set to play on Monday in hopes of further increasing their lead and securing their sixth win in eight games. Toronto boasts impressive offensive statistics, averaging 4.93 runs per game with a league-leading .270 batting average and .339 on base percentage. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the team with a .300 batting average and 21 home runs, while Bo Bichette leads with 81 RBI. On the defensive side, the Blue Jays are giving up 4.45 runs per game, ranking 20th in the league. Opponents have a .238 batting average against them, placing ninth in the league. Their pitching staff has a 4.21 ERA (20th) and a 1.26 WHIP (14th). In his last start, Gausman had a strong performance, allowing three hits and two runs in seven innings in a 4-1 loss to the Cubs.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled in their recent games, losing seven of their last eight matchups. Despite dropping their last two games against the Cubs, the team looks to break their losing streak in their upcoming game on Monday. Pittsburgh's offensive statistics rank towards the bottom of the league, with averages of 3.52 runs per game, .231 batting average, .303 on base percentage, and .345 slugging percentage. Bryan Reynolds leads the team with a .242 batting average and 61 RBI, while Oneil Cruz leads with 18 home runs. On the defensive side, the Pirates are giving up an average of 4.21 runs per game, with opponents batting .241 against them. Their 4.04 ERA ranks 17th in the league, with a WHIP of 1.24. In their most recent game, Skenes struggled, giving up six hits and four runs in four innings during a 14-0 loss to Milwaukee.

Pittsburgh Pirates Favored to Win Against Toronto Blue Jays on the Money Line

The Toronto Blue Jays have dropped two of their last three road games, while the Pittsburgh Pirates have split their last four home games. Pittsburgh holds the advantage in this matchup due to their strong hitting performance against right-handed pitchers in recent home games. Additionally, Toronto's pitcher Gausman has struggled in recent starts, giving up a total of eight runs in his last three appearances, including seven runs in his last start against the Pirates. On the offensive side, Toronto has only scored six runs in their last three road games. Facing Pittsburgh's pitcher Skenes, who has not allowed a single run in his last four home starts, Toronto's offense may struggle. Therefore, it is recommended to bet on Pittsburgh on the money line for this game.

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