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Texas Rangers vs Toronto Blue Jays Odds, Picks, Lines, and Probable Pitchers (July 17)

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated Jul 16, 2021 · 8:40 PM PDT

Teoscar Hernandez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr celebrate
Toronto Blue Jays' Teoscar Hernandez, left, celebrates his two-run home run with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. during the third inning of the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, July 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
  • The Toronto Blue Jays are heavy favorites over the Texas Rangers on Saturday at Sahlen  Field in Buffalo
  • The Blue Jays’ Hyun Jin Ryu (8-5, 3.56) faces fellow left-hander Kolby Allard (2-6, 3.69)
  • A look at the odds and pitching matchups can be found below with a predcition

After rolling to a win in their first game after the All-Star break, the Toronto Blue Jays will try to make it two in a row against the Texas Rangers at 3:07 pm ET Saturday at Sahlen Field in Buffalo.

The Blue Jays routed the Rangers 10-2 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series following four days off for the break. Toronto (46-42) has posted back-to-back victories on the heels of a stretch of four losses in five games and is a big favorite Saturday.

Texas (35-56), last in the American League West, is on a three-game losing streak and has dropped six of its last eight.

Rangers vs Blue Jays Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
Texas Rangers +200 +1.5 (+105) Over 9.5 (-105)
Toronto Blue Jays -250 -1.5 (-125) Under 9.5 (-115)

Odds as of July 16th at DraftKings.

The Blue Jays opened at -275 on the moneyline so that number has fallen somewhat as did the total, which started at 10.

Probable Pitchers

Kolby Allard
VS
Hyun Jin Ryu
2-6 Record 8-5
3.69 ERA 3.56
3.61 xERA 4.28
1.07 WHIP 1.17
4.69 SO/W 3.52

Allard has lost his last four starts while compiling a 5.01 ERA, the second longest losing streak of his four-year career after a six-gamer last season. However, he has pitched six innings in three of those four outings.

Last Sunday against the Athletics at Oakland, Allard allowed four runs and five hits in six innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

Allard has had two quality starts in eight turns since moving from the bullpen to the rotation May 27. He is 1-6 with a 3.95 ERA in his eight starts.

Allard is also 1-4 with a 3.60 ERA in 10 road games, including five starts, and 1-3 with a 4.62 ERA in six games (four starts) in the day.

His lone start against the Blue Jays came in 2019 and resulted in a win as he yielded three runs in 5.2 inning at home. He has never pitched at Sahlen Field as a big leaguer.

Ryu pitched relatively well leading up to the All-Star break, compiling a 3-1 record and a 3.97 ERA in four starts.

He beat the Orioles on July 7 in Baltimore in his last start when he gave up one run on five hits in five innings while striking out seven and walking two.

Ryu has struggled in Buffalo this season, going 1-2 with a 6.85 ERA in four starts. He is 3-2 with a 3.77 in eight daytime starts.. Overall, he has eight quality starts in 17 outings.

Perhaps he misses the village of Dunedin, Florida though,

Ryu made his first career start against the Rangers on April 7 in Arlington and took a tough-luck loss, surrendering just two runs in seven innings.

OPS vs Starting Pitchers

Rangers Batters OPS vs Ryu
Nick Solak 1.667
Jose Trevino 1.333
Charlie Culberson .833
David Dahl .727
Leody Taveras .667
Eli White .667
Isaiah Kiner-Falefa .000
Joey Gallo .000
Nate Lowe .000
Blue Jays Batters OPS vs Allard
Randal Grichuk 2.167
Cavan Biggio 1.667
Danny Jansen 1.000
Marcus Semien .650
Teoscar Hernandez .333
George Springer .167
Bo Bichette .000
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, .000

Rangers designated hitter David Dahl is 2 for 11 with five strikeouts versus Ryu but the hits have been a double and home run. Second baseman Nick Solak also has a homer off the lefty in three plate appearances.

Dahl was known to get hot while with the Colorado Rockies.

Blue Jays center fielder George Springer has struggled against Allard in a small sample size, going 0 for 5 with a walk in six plate appearances. Right fielder Randal Grichuk is 1 for 2 with a triple and a walk.

Shortstop Bo Bichette has reached base in 19 straight games, though he 0 for 3 against Allard.

Rangers vs Blue Jays Pick

The season series is tied 2-2 and the teams also split six games in 2019. They did not play meet last year during the pandemic-shortened season.

These are two franchises headed in opposite direction as evidenced Friday night when Guerrero followed hIs MVP performance in the All-Star Game with two home runs. Fellow All-Star Teoscar Hernadez and Marcus Semien also homered along with Randal Grichuk.

Though the number is high, it’s hard to buck the Blue Jays.

The Pick: Blue Jays (-230)


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