Philadelphia Phillies Vs. Toronto Blue Jays (7/12/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction

Philadelphia is +3500 to win the 2022 World Series, they last won the title in 2008 and lost the World Series the subsequent year.  In 2022, through 86 games, the Phillies are 46-40, third place in the National League East.  They’re +1600 to win the division crown.  Their last playoff appearance was 2011, they made the playoffs five consecutive seasons, 2007-11.

Through 87 games of 2022, Toronto is 45-42: fourth place in the American League East.  The Blue Jays are +4000 to win their division and +1500 to win the 2022 World Series: their third in franchise history.  Ironically, the Blue Jays last title came against the Phillies in 1993, winning in six games as Joe Carter’s walk-off home run capped and amazing season.  Toronto has made only three playoff appearances (2015, 2016 and 2020) since their last title in almost 20 years ago.

Philadelphia Phillies Vs. Toronto Blue Jays Betting Odds

The Phillies are 11-9 in their last 20 games: 7-6 in interleague play in 2022.  Philadelphia is three games over .500 against right-handed pitching at 32-29 and three games over .500 on the road at 22-19.  In their last 20 games the Blue Jays are 7-13; in interleague action they are 4-4 this year.  Toronto has won five of their last nine matchups against Philadelphia.  The Blue Jays have a record of 39-27 against the Phillies.

Philadelphia Phillies Starting Lineup

A. Bellatti R
1-3 3.14 ERA

LF K. Schwarber L
1B R. Hoskins R
RF N. Castellanos R
DH D. Hall L
SS D. Gregorius L
CF M. Vierling R
2B B. Stott L
C G. Stubbs L
3B Y. Munoz R

Philadelphia Phillies Vs. Jose Berrios (R)

Superstar Bryce Harper won his second National League MVP in his career in 2021.  This season he’s hitting .318 with 15 home run and 48 runs batted in to lead the Phillies.  He was named as a starter for the National League All-Star at DH but will not play due to a broken thumb that will keep him out of Philadelphia’s lineup until at least August.

Kyle Schwarber who signed with the Phillies in the off-season, hit .266 with 32 home runs while playing for Washington and Boston in 2021.  He currently leads the National League in home runs with 28 and has been a dominant force in Philadelphia’s lineup.  He was chosen on Sunday as a reserve for the NL All-Star team.  The 2016 World Series champion has hit at least 30 home runs in four major league seasons.  He’s knocked in 57 runs (eighth in MLB), accumulated 165 total bases, leading the Phillies while slugging .531 with an OPS of .867 in 2022.  The left-handed slugger is +2500 to win the National League MVP Award.

In his first season with the Phillies after hitting 34 home runs and driving in 100 runs for the Cincinnati Reds, he’s currently hitting .251 with eight home runs, 45 runs batted in with an OPS of .675.  Castellanos has 125 total bases while slugging .378 in 2022.

Rhys Hoskins hit .247 with 27 home runs and 71 runs batted in in 2021.  This season, he has 18 doubles, two triple, 17 home runs, 42 runs batted in, 152 total bases (second on the team) with an OPS of .829.  

Jose Berrios is 6-4 in 17 starts with an ERA of 5.44 for Toronto this season.  The righty has tossed 89 1/3 innings in 2022, striking out 73 while allowing 54 runs, which leads the league with a 1.388 WHIP.  In his seventh big league season, Berrios has won 66 games with an ERA 4.17 in 941 innings.

Toronto Blue Jays Starting Lineup

K. Gausman R
6-6 2.86 ERA

CF G. Springer R
SS B. Bichette R
1B V. Guerrero R
DH A. Kirk R
RF T. Hernandez R
LF L. Gurriel R
3B M. Chapman R
2B S. Espinal R
C G. Moreno R

Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Andrew Bellatti (R)

In 2021, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., led the American League in home runs with 48 while hitting .311.  This season he’s hitting .266 while leading the team in home runs (19), runs batted in (54) and total bases (158).  Additionally, the 23-year-old has a slugging percentage of .483 with an OPS of .829 in 2022. 

Bo Bichette led the American League in hits with 191 in 2021.  This season he has 94 hits overall; 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 156 total bases with a .731 OPS.  Additionally, he’s knocked in 48 runs, scored 47 runs with a .430 slugging percentage in 2022.  In 2021, Matt Chapman slammed 27 home runs, drove in 72 runs, and accumulated 213 total bases while a member of the Oakland Athletics.  This season, he has 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 40 runs batted in, 115 total bases with a .700 OPS. 

George Springer in his second year as a Blue Jay, is hitting .248 in his first 274 at-bats of 2022.  He’s hit 17 home runs (second on the club), driven in 40 runs with 141 total bases this campaign.  Springer has an OPS of .821 with a slugging percentage of .490 that leads the Blue Jays this year. 

This campaign, Alejandro Kirk has been tremendous for the Blue Jays behind the plate; being named the starting catcher for the AL All-Star team this past Friday.  The 23-year-old catcher leads the team in batting average (.309) and OPS (.821) while he’s third in slugging percentage (.481) this season.  He’s belted 10 home runs, driven in 33 runs, and accumulated 117 total bases through 77 games played in 2022.

Andrew Bellatti is 1-3 in 32 games with an ERA of 3.14 for Philadelphia this season.  The righty has tossed 28 2/3 innings in 2022, striking out 41 while allowing 10 runs with a 1.221 WHIP. 

Philadelphia Phillies Vs. Toronto Blue Jays Picks & Prediction

Offensively, Philadelphia is averaging 4.81 runs per nine innings, third in the majors.  They are hitting .247 as a team, 11^th overall in MLB with an OPS of .734, eighth overall.  The Phillies’ pitching staff is allowing 4.12 runs per nine innings, 11^th in Major League Baseball with opponents hitting .235, 10^th overall. 

Toronto is averaging 4.63 runs per nine innings, ninth in Major League Baseball. They have a team batting average of .257, third in the league, and their OPS is .753, fourth in all of MLB.  The Blue Jays pitching staff has allowed 4.53 runs per nine innings, 21^st in the league with opponents’ batting .251 against the team, 21^stin MLB.  I’ll go with home team Blue Jays in this game as the Phillies will be missing key players J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm due to vaccine mandates in Canada thus weakening the Philadelphia lineup.  Toronto covers the 1.5 run spread and gets their 26^th home win.