Both the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians still are alive in their division races. Toronto most likely isn’t winning the AL East but has a good shot at a wild card spot. Cleveland’s only realistic shot at a playoff berth is to catch Minnesota in the Central. It’s the third of a four-game series between the visiting Jays and Guardians on Wednesday.

Nitrobetting checks out the game in this preview. Get a complete look at the game information, team and player statistics, and the latest MLB odds. We also deliver timely betting trends and predictions that help you secure the best picks.

Blue Jays vs. Guardians Game Information

Shutout!#ForTheLand | #GuardiWins pic.twitter.com/guvrZtna1a

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 9, 2023

• When: Wednesday, August 9, 2023, 7:10 PM ET
• Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
• TV: Sportsnet, BSGL
• Radio: 96.3 Big FM (Blue Jays) // 1480 AM WHBC (Guardians)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Blue Jays (+116) // Guardians (-164)

READ MORE: Angels vs. Astros MLB Odds, Preview and Prediction – August 11, 2023

Why bet on the Toronto Blue Jays?

This is the first series of the season between the teams with Cleveland going to Toronto later this month. The Jays’ Santiago Espinal is a career .355 hitter (11-for-31) vs. Cleveland, notching four doubles and four RBI for a .943 OPS. George Springer hits .274 career against the Guardians with 12 doubles, seven homers, and 20 RBI (.905 OPS).

Toronto batters have combined for an AL-high .266 batting average in the 7th inning or later this season, trailing only Miami (.281) for the best mark in the majors. Five of Cavan Biggo’s eight homers this season have come in the 8th inning, tied for the most among AL hitters.

The Jays remain without All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette, the AL’s leading hitter, and closer Jordan Romano, both on the IL.

Bichette resumed baseball activities a few days ago and looks to be ramping things back up with encouraging results as he works his way back from patellar tendinitis in his right knee. He won’t play in this series but maybe activated Friday. Trade acquisition Jordan Hicks has been largely closing with Romano out. Dating to his time with the Cardinals, Hicks hasn’t allowed a home run since April 15th, a stretch of 40.1 consecutive homerless innings, the 10th-longest active streak in the Majors.

Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier joined Romano and Bichette on the IL Tuesday. Kiermaier, a Gold Glove defender, required eight stitches around his elbow after colliding with the outfield wall Sunday against the Red Sox and will now officially be sidelined until at least next weekend. Nathan Lukes was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding roster move. Lukes has gone 4-for-21 (.190) this season at the major-league level, but he’s been excellent at Triple-A.

It’s ace right Kevin Gausman on the mound here. Gausman (8-6) took the loss last Thursday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks over 4.1 innings against Baltimore. He struck out six. Gausman allowed multiple baserunners in three separate frames and was pulled with one out in the fifth after a Ryan O’Hearn single. It was his shortest outing since he went just 3.1 innings against the Red Sox on May 4. However, Gausman had been great between these two rough starts, going 6-2 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 113:25 K:BB across 85.2 innings during that stretch.

Gausman faced the Guardians twice in 2022, giving up six runs over 11.0 combined innings. He has faced Cleveland seven times career and is 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA (14 ER/40.1 IP).

Why bet on the Cleveland Guardians?

One of Cleveland’s best hitters, Josh Naylor, is on the IL with an oblique strain that may keep him out several weeks. Naylor has been Cleveland’s most productive middle-of-the-lineup hitter. He’s batting .306 with 15 homers and a team-high 79 RBI. Catcher David Fry landed on the IL Tuesday. He carved out a nice niche on the team as a utility man with a solid bat. Fry has hit .250 with. a.737 OPS over his 84 at-bats this season. Outfielder Ramon Laureano, claimed off waivers from the Athletics on Monday, will fill the vacant 26-man roster spot. Laureano made his Guardians debut on Tuesday in right field and hit fifth in the lineup.

All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez was suspended three games for a brawl against the White Sox over the weekend but has been playing through it while appealing. He’s going to have to serve it eventually. Career against Toronto, Ramirez is batting .289 with 6 home runs and 28 RBI.

It’s lefty rookie Logan Allen (5-4) on the mound. Allen allowed two runs on four hits and four walks over six innings last Friday, striking out five and earning a win against the White Sox. The only damage against Allen came in the third inning after he’d been tagged with nine runs and four homers in his previous two outings before Friday’s start. The four walks tied his season high. Allen dropped his season ERA to 3.65 with an 85:32 K:BB through 86.1 frames. He hasn’t faced Toronto.

Cleveland and Oakland are the only two MLB teams to have six different rookies throw 30.0+ innings this season.

Blue Jays vs. Guardians Betting Trends

• Toronto is 4-1 SU in the last 5 games.
• Blue Jays are 2-5 SU in its last 7 games against Cleveland.
• The total went under in 6 of Toronto’s last 7 games.
• Cleveland is 2-6 SU in the last 8 games.
• Guardians are 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against Toronto.
• The total went under in 6 of Cleveland’s last 7 games.

Blue Jays vs. Guardians Betting Prediction

Blue Jays 4, Guardians 3.

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