Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Houston Astros (4/22/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction
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In 2021 the Toronto Blue Jays was 91-71, fourth in the American League East. Manager Charlie Montoyo entering his fourth season as Blue Jays manager has a record of 190-194. Through their first 12 games of 2022, Toronto is 7-5. The Blue Jays are +750 to win the 2022 World Series. Since their last championship in 1993, Toronto has made only three playoff appearances (2015, 2016 and 2020). Last season the Houston Astros were 95-67, first in the American League West. They won the American League pennant, losing to the Atlanta Braves in the 2021 World Series, four games to two games. Houston has won six of their first 12 games in 2022. The Astros are +950 to win the World Series, they won their only championship in 2017.
Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Houston Astros Betting Odds
Under is 4-1-2 in the Blue Jays last seven during game one of a series. Toronto is 4-1 in their last five during game one of a series. The Blue Jays are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. American League West opponents. Toronto is 2-5 in the last seven meetings with Houston. The Astros are 50-23 in their last 73 Friday games. Houston is 5-2 in their last seven vs. American League East foes. The Astros are 61-24 in their last 85 games following an off day. Houston is 5-2 in the last seven meetings with Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays Starting Lineup
CF George Springer R
SS Bo Bichette R
1B Vladimir Guerrero R
LF Lourdes Gurriel R
3B Matt Chapman R
RF Raimel Tapia L
DH Zack Collins L
C Alejandro Kirk R
2B Santiago Espinal R
Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Justin Verlander (R)
In 2021, 23-year-old Vladimir Guerrero Jr., led the American League in home runs with 48 while hitting .311. He led the American League in the following categories, runs scored (123), OBP (.401), slugging percentage (.601), OPS (1.002), OPS+ (167) and total bases (363). This season he’s hitting .302 (13-43) with five home runs, 10 runs batted in with 29 total bases and an OPS of 1.062. Bo Bichette is another outstanding young Toronto batter who led the American League in hits with 191 in 2021. Additionally, the 2021 All-Star batted .298 with 29 big flies, 102 runs batted in, 310 total bases with an OPS of .828. This season he has two doubles, a home run, three runs batted in with 16 total bases.
In 2021, Matt Chapman slammed 27 home runs, drove in 72 runs, accumulated 213 total bases with an OPS of .716 while a member of the Oakland Athletics. To start the 2022 season, he has two home runs, seven runs batted in with a .711 OPS.
George Springer entering his second year as a Blue Jay, hit .264 with 22 home runs and 50 runs batted in. The former Houston Astro has 13 hits in 47 at-bats this season; two home runs and six runs batted in with an OPS of .816. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is hitting .289 in 45 at-bats this season with five runs knocked in. Last season he hit .276 with 21 home runs and 84 runs batted in.
Justin Verlander is 1-1 in two starts in 2022 with a 0.69 ERA. He’s struck out 15 batters in 16 innings, allowing one run with a .692 WHIP. In 17 seasons, Verlander is 227-130 with an ERA of 3.32 while striking out 3,028 batters in 3,001 innings pitched.
Houston Astros Starting Lineup
SS Jeremy Pena R
LF Michael Brantley L
3B Alex Bregman R
DH Yordan Alvarez L
1B Yuli Gurriel R
RF Kyle Tucker L
2B Niko Goodrum S
CF Chris McCormick R
C Martin Maldonado R
Houston Astros Vs. Ross Stripling (R)
Alex Bregman has two doubles, two home runs and a team leading eight runs batted in to begin the 2022 season. He has 18 total bases with a .439 slugging percentage and an OPS of .772. Bregman is a career .280 hitter with 119 home runs and 405 runs batted in. Shortstop Jeremy Pena is hitting .308 in his first 39 at-bats of 2022. This year, Pena has three doubles, a triple, a home run and four runs batted in with a team leading 23 total bases. Jose Altuve who has a home run and three runs batted in this season is currently on the 10-day injured list.
Michael Brantley is hitting .267 in his first 45 at-bats of the 2022 season. Additionally, he has two doubles, a home run, five runs batted in, 17 total bases and a slugging percentage of .378 in 11 games. The left fielder in his fourth season with Houston is a lifetime .298 hitter with 123 home runs and 692 runs driven in. Kyle Tucker has two home runs and four runs batted in to begin the season. Last season, Tucker hit .294 with 30 home runs and 92 runs batted in. Additionally, he had a .557 slugging percentage with an OPS of .917. Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros this year with three home runs and is second on the team in runs batted in with six. Alvarez has 15 total bases with a .600 slugging percentage and an OPS of .910 in 2022.
Catcher Martin Maldonado has one home run and four runs batted in this season. In 12 seasons in the big leagues, he has 82 home runs and 284 runs batted in with an OPS of .636.
Ross Stripling has pitched in three games this season, starting one contest with a 3.00 ERA. In six innings pitched he has struck out three hitters and allowed two earned runs in 2022. In seven big league seasons, Stripling is 28-24 with a 3.96 ERA and a WHIP of 1.236.
Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Houston Astros Picks & Prediction
The Blue Jays are 2-6 in their last eight Friday games. Over is 4-1 in Toronto’s last five vs. the American League West. The Blue Jays are 2-6 in the last eight meetings in Houston against the Astros. Offensively, Toronto is averaging 4.2 runs per nine innings, 14th in Major League Baseball. Houston is 157-77 in their last 234 home games. The Astros are 6-2 in the last eight meetings in Houston vs. the Blue Jays. Under is 6-1 in Houston’s last seven games following an off day. The Astros are scoring 3.5 runs per nine innings, 23rd overall in Major League Baseball. I like Houston to win this game by over 1.5 runs with the teams combining for under 8.5 runs. Justin Verlander has pitched well this season after missing the 2021 campaign due to Tommy John surgery, averaging almost seven innings pitched per start in 2022.
