Blue Jays vs Mariners AL Wild Card Picks, Odds & Series Schedule
By Robert Duff in MLB Baseball
Updated: September 27, 2024 at 8:32 am EDTPublished:
- In the Blue Jays vs Mariners AL Wild Card Picks, it’s Toronto that’s set as -150 series favorites over Seattle
- The Mariners went 5-2 straight up over the Blue Jays during regular-season play
- Seattle was 4-0 SU at home this season, but 1-2 at Toronto, where all three games of this series will be played
There’s symmetry in the Toronto Blue Jays (92-70) and Seattle Mariners (90-72) meeting in the AL Wild Card playoffs. Both teams entered as MLB expansion franchises in 1977.
As the only Canadian MLB franchise, the Blue Jays literally are Canada’s team. However, Seattle’s proximity to Canada has created pockets of Mariners fans in British Columbia.
Even though the Mariners won five of seven games from Toronto this season, it’s the Blue Jays who oddsmakers are going with. The Blue Jays are set as -150 favorites in this best-of-three series.
Mariners vs Blue Jays AL Wild Card Odds
| Team | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Seattle Mariners | +130 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | -150 |
Odds as of October 5 at Caesars Sportsbook. Get Caesars Sportsbook bonus code.
At moneyline odds of -150, the Blue Jays have an implied probability of victory of 60.00% in the MLB betting line. A successful $100 wager on Toronto would create a payout of $167.00.
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Toronto is a -150 betting favorite to win this Wild Card series with Seattle coming back as a +130 underdog. The Blue Jays are +1800 in the World Series odds, while the Mariners are +2000. Seattle is offered at a betting line of +900 in the AL pennant odds. Toronto is given +700 odds in this betting market.
First pitch of Game 1 at Rogers Centre goes at 4:07pm ET on Friday, October 7. ESPN is carrying the broadcast of the series in the USA, while Canadians can watch on Sportsnet.
Seattle vs Toronto H2H Results
Playing a three-game series at Toronto in mid-May, the Blue Jays opened the set with 6-2 and 3-0 victories. However, it’s been all Seattle ever since.
Mariners vs Blue Jays AL Wild Card Schedule
| Date (Time) | Game | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 7 (4:07pm ET) | Seattle Mariners @ Toronto Blue Jays | ESPN, Sportsnet |
| Oct. 8 (4:07pm ET) | Seattle Mariners @ Toronto Blue Jays | ESPN, Sportsnet |
| Oct. 9 (2:07pm ET) | Seattle Mariners @ Toronto Blue Jays | ABC, Sportsnet |
The Mariners took the third game in Toronto 5-1. Opening a four-game July set at home, Seattle posted an 8-3 triumph, followed by a 5-2 verdict in 11 innings. The last two games of the series were also Mariners victories, but each was a one-run decision. The first of these two games ended 2-1, while the second was a 6-5 Mariners win.
The American League Wild Card is set.
The Blue Jays will host the Mariners. pic.twitter.com/6JgU2S2MTm
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 5, 2022
Seattle is 7-1 straight up at home in the last eight against Toronto, but luckily for the Blue Jays, this entire series is scheduled to be played in Toronto. Since 2018, the Mariners are 7-5 SU at Toronto.
Mariners vs Blue Jays Betting Trends
Seattle was among the better AL spread teams this season. The Mariners went 83-79 against the runline, fifth-best in the league. The Blue Jays were a disappointing 74-89 on the runline. Only three other AL clubs were worse.
#Bluejays-Mariners game times announced for wildcard weekend: 4:07 for Friday and Saturday. Sunday, if necessary, is 2:07.
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) October 5, 2022
When it comes to the total, Toronto is the bomb. The Blue Jays were an AL-best 84-75-4 on the total during the regular season. Seattle was 75-79-8.
In head to head meetings, the Mariners were able to contain the Blue Jays. Five of seven games went under. Toronto was 2-5 against the runline when facing Seattle.
Seattle vs Toronto Probable Pitchers
By clinching home field on Monday, the Blue Jays were able to rest key players and set their pitching rotation up perfectly. In the MLB lineups, ace right-hander Alek Manoah (16-7, 2.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP), will go to the bump for Toronto in Game 1.
News: Alek Manoah named Game 1 starter for @BlueJays vs. @Mariners on Friday. @MLBNetwork @SeattleSports
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 5, 2022
He’ll be followed by righty Kevin Gausman (12-10, 3.35, 1.24). If Game 3 is necessary, right-hander Jose Berrios (12-7, 5.23, 1.42) figures to get the ball. Berrios was 7-2 over 16 home starts this season.
The Mariners will counter with a much deeper rotation that includes lefty Robbie Ray (12-12, 3.71, 1.19), last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner with the Blue Jays. There’s also righties Luis Castillo (4-2, 3.17, 1.10 since coming to Seattle in a trade with Cincinnati), Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.20, 1.18) and even rookie George Kirby (8-5, 3.39, 1.21).
Seattle vs Toronto Team Stats
In the MLB playoff bracket, this series pits the #4 (Toronto) and #5 (Seattle) seeds against one another. On the surface, it’s easy to bill the set as Toronto’s hitting vs Seattle’s pitching.
The @Mariners are 1 of 6 MLB teams with 90+ wins in both 2021-22, along with the Dodgers, Astros, Yankees, Cardinals & Blue Jays.
— Alex Mayer (@alexmayer34) October 5, 2022
The Blue Jays led MLB in hits (1,464) and topped the AL in slugging (.441) and OPS (.760). Toronto was second in on-base percentage (.329) and runs scored (775) and third in home runs (200).
Mariners vs Blue Jays
| 90-72 | W-L | 92-70 |
| 5 | Playoff Seeding | 4 |
| 690 | Runs Scored | 775 |
| 197 | Home Runs | 200 |
| .230 | AVG | .264 |
| .705 | OPS | .760 |
| 3.59 | ERA | 3.87 |
| 1.19 | WHIP | 1.23 |
Seattle was fifth in the AL in ERA (3.59) and WHIP (1.19), and fourth in runs allowed (623) and strikeouts (1,391). However, the Mariners were also fourth in the league in home runs (197).
Mariners vs Blue Jays Series Prediction
Toronto was 46-42 when manager Charlie Montoyo was fired. The Blue Jays were a different club under his replacement John Schneider, going 46-28.
Toronto is hoping to get left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr (left hamstring) and second baseman Santiago Espinal (left oblique) back from injury in time for this series.
I kind of love the fact that the Mariners and Blue Jays, 1977 expansion twins, are playing each other in the postseason. Throw it back: pic.twitter.com/P1Rvy1Ks0v
— Todd Radom (@ToddRadom) October 5, 2022
Playing at home gives the Blue Jays a significant edge. But it’s going to take Toronto three games to overcome Seattle. One of our favorite betting sites, is offering exact series outcome wagers. Take Toronto 2-1.
Best Bet: Toronto 2 Seattle 1 (exact series outcome) +245
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
