Cleveland Indians (51-50) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (53-48)
August 2, 2021 3:07 pm EDT
The Line: Toronto Blue Jays -270 / Cleveland Indians +241; Over/Under: -9.5
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The Cleveland Indians and the Toronto Blue Jays meet Monday in MLB action from Rogers Centre. Cleveland is coming off a weekend series versus the White Sox. The Indians split the first pair of games in that set, then on Sunday Cleveland took a rough one run loss. As for the Jays, they played the Royals in their last series. Toronto won the first pair in that one, then on Sunday in the finale the Jays kept it rolling on a four-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Cleveland put up a 6-4 loss to the White Sox on Friday, but bounced back with a tense 12-11 victory in the Saturday game two. On Sunday, the Indians fell in a walk-off 2-1 result. Cal Quantrill put up 6.0 frames with three earned and four walks.
For the Monday starter gig, the Indians will send out Eli Morgan. Over his seven starts this year so far, Morgan has a 1-3 record, a 7.47 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 31.1 innings of work total.
Over on the Blue Jays’ side, they notched wins over the Royals 6-4 on Friday and 4-0 on Saturday. In the Sunday game, Toronto bagged three runs in the third inning on the way to a 5-1 win. Jose Berrios managed 6.0 innings with five hits, no earned and one walk.
For the starting pitcher role in the Monday game, the Jays will send out Robbie Ray. Over 118.1 innings this year Ray has 96 hits 41 runs (40 earned), 23 homers allowed, 30 walks, 150 Ks and a 3.04 ERA.
The Indians are 1-6 in the last seven versus the AL East and 0-5 in their last five in game one of a series. Cleveland is 0-6 in their last six on turf and 6-15 in their last 21 versus a team with a winning record.
Meanwhile, the Jays are 0-6 in their last six Monday games and 2-5 in their last seven in game one of a series. Toronto is 4-9 in their last 13 versus a team with a winning record and the under is 4-1 in the last five versus a team with a winning record.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Jays. Ray has been pitching well lately (outside of a sketchy July 21 game versus the Red Sox) with one or fewer earned runs in three of his last four starts. As for Morgan, he’s given up three earned in each of his last three starts, a total of nine earned on 15 hits and three walks in 15.0 innings. I like Morgan to pitch decently here but it’s probably Toronto’s game to take.
