Cardinals vs. Blue Jays: Predictions, Tips, Odds – 9-13

The Toronto Blue Jays' disappointing season is coming to an end, but that doesn't mean it's no longer worth betting on the Blue Birds.

On Friday evening, they host the St. Louis Cardinals for the start of a three-game interleague series. The Cards are also somewhat of an underdog in the postseason.

So the question is motivation and my predictions for the Cardinals vs. Blue Jays game are that the bats will provide home court tonight.

Check out my MLB picks to see why I'm betting on the Jays offense.

Prediction for Cardinals vs. Blue Jays

My best bet
Blue Jays team total over 3.5 (-145 at PROLINE+)

My analysis

While this has been a lost season for the Toronto Blue Jays, the team has undoubtedly become a lot more fun to watch since the trade deadline, having beefed up the farm system and given more young players a chance to pitch.

It wasn't so bad to watch Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smash balls at an absurd rate, either.

With Vladdy at the helm and guys like Spencer Horwitz, Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner finally backing him up, the Blue Jays lineup has been productive. Dare I say good?

Well, that's what the numbers say, at least. Toronto ranks ninth in batting average and sixth in OPS and wRC+ since the start of August, and I'm confident they'll continue that trend when they face St. Louis Cardinals starter Erick Fedde in the batter's box tonight.

The Cardinals acquired Fedde from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline, and surprisingly he hasn't pitched that well with his new team. The 31-year-old right-hander has a 4.30 ERA and a 5.09 FIP while posting a .756 OPS in seven starts as a member of the Red Birds.

Fedde also started the season as a member of the White Sox against the Blue Jays, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in six innings (more on that appearance below).

When you also factor in the fact that St. Louis' bullpen has been an average unit at best over the second half of the season (18th in xFIP, 24th in strikeouts per nine innings), the Blue Jays have a lot to play for when it comes to putting up over their team point total on Friday night.

Prop for Blue Jays star player

My best bet
Daulton Varsho over 0.5 RBI (+195 at PROLINE+)

My analysis

Anyone who regularly reads my Blue Jays picks knows that we've spent a lot of time betting on Guerrero's RBIs this season. But can you blame us? Anyway, we're giving Vladdy the night off and focusing on his teammate Daulton Varsho instead.

Varsho is a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder and like many of his teammates, he has been more productive at bat since the trade deadline. The left-handed hitter has a .252 batting average with a .759 OPS, including five doubles, a triple and a home run, and has scored 12 runs.

He also enjoyed his last duel with Fedde. Varsho went 2-4 with a home run and an RBI in that game. In his career, he is 3-7 against Fedde, with two of those hits leaving the stadium. That gives him an expected batting average of .499 and an expected slugging rating of 1.129.

Varsho has a +195 chance to score a run tonight, making him a five-star play according to our Covers Prop Projections.

Cardinals vs Blue Jays odds

Cardinals vs Blue Jays live odds

Cardinals vs. Blue Jays Opening Odds

• Money line: St. Louis +115 | Toronto -135
• Execute line: St. Louis +1.5 -180 | Toronto -1.5 +150
• Over/Under: Over 8.0 | Under 8.0

Cardinals vs. Blue Jays Moneyline and Over/Under Analysis

• The Blue Jays started this interleague duel as favorites at -135 and remained as favorites early Friday afternoon.
• The Blue Jays' starter for this game has not been determined as of Friday afternoon, but don't be surprised if Kevin Gausman gets the call. He has a 2.56 ERA in his last six starts and would explain why the Jays are listed at this price against a solid starter like Fedde.
• The total reached a smooth 8.0 and has not yet deviated from the initial number.
• I think the Blue Jays will outperform their team total, so I'd lean toward the over for the entire game even if Gausman gets the call. Whoever is on the mound will eventually have to give the ball up to a bullpen that has the third-worst ERA in baseball.

Cardinals vs. Blue Jays Trend

The Blue Jays have hit the over in 33 of their last 49 home games, yielding +17.90 units and a 33% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Blue Jays here.

Match info Cardinals vs. Blue Jays

Cardinals vs. Blue Jays: Latest injuries

Weather Cardinals vs. Blue Jays

Pages on this topic