Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Seattle Mariners (7/8/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction

Through their first 83 games of 2022, Toronto is 45-38: fourth place in the American League East.  The Blue Jays are +2500 to win their division and +1300 to win the 2022 World Series: their third in franchise history.  Since their last championship in 1993, Toronto has made only three playoff appearances (2015, 2016 and 2020). 

The Seattle Mariners’ are 41-42 through 83 games this season; second place in the American League West; they’re +6500 to win the division.  Seattle has made the playoffs four times in franchise history with their last appearance being in 2001.  The Mariners have not won a World Series since the clubs’ inception in 1977; they’re +11000 to win the 2022 World Series.

Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Seattle Mariners Betting Odds

Toronto has an 8-12 record in their last 20 games and have won 20 road games in 2022.  The Blue Jays are 15-7 in games against the American League West this year.  Against right-handed starters Toronto has won over 35 games this season.  The Blue Jays hold a record of 217-198 over the Mariners; they both entered MLB together in 1977.  Seattle was 4-2 against Toronto last season and they’ve lost two out three to the Blue Jays this season.  The Mariners are 8-15 against National League East foes.   In their last 30 games, Seattle is 18-12.  In 2022, the Mariners have won 35 games against righties.

Toronto Blue Jays Starting Lineup

R. Stripling R
4-3 3.32 ERA

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

Toronto Blue Jays Vs. George Kirby (R)

In 2021, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., led the American League in home runs with 48 while hitting .311.  This season he’s hitting .265 while leading the team in home runs (19), runs batted in (53) and total bases (152).  Additionally, the 23-year-old has a slugging percentage of .490 with an OPS of .839 in 2022. 

Bo Bichette led the American League in hits with 191 in 2021.  This season he has 89 hits overall; 20 doubles, 13 home runs, 148 total bases with a .729 OPS.  Additionally, he’s knocked in 44 runs, scored 45 runs with a .428 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, 114 total bases with a .720 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 15 home runs (second on the club), driven in 38 runs with 129 total bases this campaign.  Springer has an OPS of .802 with a slugging percentage of .471 this year. 

This campaign, Alejandro Kirk has been outstanding for the Blue Jays behind the plate.  The 23-year-old catcher leads the team in batting average (.317), slugging percentage (.500) and OPS (.904) this season.  He’s belted 10 home runs, driven in 33 runs, and accumulated 115 total bases through 73 games played in 2022.

Rookie George Kirby is 2-3 in 11 starts with an ERA of 3.75 this season.  In 60 innings pitched, he’s struck out 58 batters and allowed 25 runs with a WHIP of 1.150 in 2022.

Seattle Mariners Starting Lineup

G. Kirby R
2-3 3.75 ERA

SS J. Crawford L
1B T. France R
CF J. Rodriguez R
3B E. Suarez R
DH C. Santana S
C C. Raleigh S
2B A. Frazier L
RF D. Moore R
LF S. Haggerty S

Seattle Mariners Vs. Ross Stripling (R)

Rookie Julio Rodriguez leads the Mariners in home runs (15) and slugging percentage (.487) in 2022.  The 21-year-old has hit 16 doubles, two triples, driven in 43 runs, stolen 21 bases this season.  Additionally, he’s accumulated 151 total bases with an OPS of .823 this season.  The centerfielder is -275 to win the 2022 American League Rookie of the Year Award.

Abraham Toro has hit 10 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, knocked in 22 runs with 74 total bases this year.  Serving mostly as the designated hitter, he has a slugging percentage of .333 with 25 runs scored in 2022.

Catcher Cal Raleigh has hit 10 doubles, 10 home runs, knocked in 27 runs with a slugging percentage of .451 in 2022.  Also, he has 74 total bases with an OPS of .723 this season. 

Ross Stripling is 4-3 in 19 games (11 starts) with an ERA of 3.32 this season.  In 62 1/3 innings pitched, he’s struck out 49 batters and allowed 23 runs with a WHIP of 1.123 in 2022.

Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Seattle Mariners Picks & Prediction

Toronto is averaging 4.71 runs per nine innings, seventh in Major League Baseball. They have a team batting average of .257, third in the league, and their OPS is .758, third in all of MLB.  The Blue Jays pitching staff has allowed 4.48 runs per nine innings, 19^th in the league with opponents’ batting .252 against the team, 22^nd in MLB. 

The Mariners are averaging 4.08 runs per nine innings, 25^th overall in MLB.  They have a team batting average of .235, 24^th in the league, and their OPS is .701, 16^th overall in baseball.  Seattle’s pitching staff has allowed 3.94 runs per nine innings, sixth in MLB with opponents’ batting .235 against the club, ninth in the league. 

I’ll go with the road team Blue Jays in this game due to their explosiveness on offense despite the Mariners allowing less than four runs a game.  Toronto covers the 1.5 run spread and wins game of the series against Seattle.