MLB Baseball
2012-04-26 - Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Thursday 26 April 2012 - First Pitch 7:05pm ET
12:05am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Baltimore Orioles (11-7) will try and complete the sweep of the second series between themselves and the Toronto Blue Jays (10-8) and also go for their fifth win in six games against their Divisional rivals this season.
Baltimore have outscored Toronto 5-1 in the last two games here, including a 3-0 win last night, and they are relying on strong starting pitching after the team had the Major League worst ERA last season.
A problem for the Orioles is that they are sending Brian Matusz to the mound as the last starter that has yet to record a win this season. There are suggestions that he will be sent down to the Minors if he struggles with his command again today.
Matusz is 0-3 with a 7.98 ERA this season and he has really been struggling since last season. He has allowed at least 5 runs in 10 of his last 13 starts for the Orioles and has also struggled when facing the Blue Jays. The pitcher is 0-3 with a 13.09 ERA from 4 starts against Toronto and he was tagged for 5 runs in just under 6 innings pitched against them 11 days ago.
Baltimore will also be missing some key players from the batting line up with Nolan Reimold and Robert Andino both expected to be absent again.
Toronto will be hoping they can salvage some pride as they send Drew Hutchison to the mound for only his second ever start at this level. He allowed 5 runs in just over 5 innings pitched against Kansas City in his debut, but was given the decision as the Blue Jays put up 9 runs and he may need that run support again.
Head to Head
Baltimore are 4-1 against the Blue Jays so far this season, but the Orioles were 5-10 in games against them before that.
The Orioles have won both home games this season, but they were 2-5 in their previous 7 games against Toronto here.
Prediction
I am taking a risky pick in this one and backing the Toronto Blue Jays to continue bashing Brian Matusz and earn the win tonight with a little bit of room to spare.
Baltimore have been pitching well all in all, but Matusz has been struggling and will be under some more mental pressure knowing his spot in the rotation is in jeopardy and he could be pitching in the Minors sooner rather than later to regain his command.
Toronto have struggled for runs in the first couple of games in the series here at Oriole Park, but they have shown they are capable of scoring runs in bunches before that, so the 2.40 they win this on the run line looks worth backing.
The Pick :
Baltimore Orioles 5-8 Toronto Blue Jays
