The Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Guardians meet Thursday in MLB action from Progressive Field. This matchup marks the finale in a four-game series. After a split in the first two installments, in game three Toronto eked out a low-scoring win to take the series lead. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Toronto Blue Jays 

The Blue Jays were able to power out a 3-1 victory in the Monday opener of this series, but then fell in a tough matchup 1-0 in game two. Whit Merrifield had a solid evening on 3-for-4 hitting in the defeat. On Wednesday Toronto scored once in the first inning and held on for a 1-0 win. George Springer had a solo homer as the lone run alongside three hits. 

As starter Thursday it’ll be the Jays’ Alek Manoah. Across his 18 starts so far Manoah is 3-8 with a 5.72 ERA and 73 Ks in 83.1 innings. Manoah is 2-3 with a 6.07 ERA in his last seven starts with 20 earned over 29.2 innings. 

Toronto Blue Jays Team Facts

• The Blue Jays have lost seven of their last eight games as road favorites against the Guardians following a win.
• The Blue Jays have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games as road favorites against the Guardians following a win.
• The Blue Jays have trailed after 7 innings in four of their last six games as road favorites against American League opponents.
• The Blue Jays have trailed after 3 innings in four of their last six games as road favorites against American League opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last nine day games.

Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts

• George Springer has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances in day games against AL teams that held a losing record.
• George Springer has recorded two or more hits in each of his last five appearances in day games against AL teams that held a losing record.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Blue Jays’ last six Thursday games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Alek Manoah has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last six appearances in day games.
• George Springer has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last five appearances in day games against AL teams that held a losing record.
• George Springer has scored at least one run in each of his last five appearances in day games against AL teams that held a losing record.

Cleveland Guardians 

Over on the Cleveland side, they got the eventual game-winning RBI from Ramon Laureano in the second inning on Tuesday as Tanner Bibee posted 7.0 clean frames for the win. In game three the Guardians had a tepid six hits on the day. Kole Calhoun was the only player with more than one hit (two) in the loss. 

In the starting pitcher role Thursday it’ll be Noah Syndergaard. Across 14 starts so far Syndergaard is 1-5 with a 6.75 ERA and 41 Ks in 66.2 innings. Syndergaard is 0-1 over his last five starts with an 8.61 ERA and 22 earned in 23.0 innings. 

Cleveland Guardians Team Facts

• The Guardians have won eight of their last nine games as underdogs against the Blue Jays following a home loss.
• The Guardians have covered the run line in eight of their last nine games as underdogs against the Blue Jays following a home loss.
• The Guardians have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last five Thursday day games against opponents that held a winning record.
• The Guardians have led after 7 innings in each of their last eight Thursday games.
• The Guardians have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last five Thursday day games against opponents that held a winning record.

Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts

• Steven Kwan has hit a home run in two of the Guardians’ last three day games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Andres Gimenez has recorded at least one RBI in seven of his last nine appearances in day games against teams that held a winning record.
• Ramon Laureano has scored at least one run in five of his last six appearances against the Blue Jays after playing the previous day.
• Jose Ramirez has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Guardians’ last three day games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
• Noah Syndergaard has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last five Thursday appearances in day games.
• Will Brennan has recorded at least one hit in each of his 10 previous Thursday appearances.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Cleveland Guardians ranks 30th in the league for home runs this season (84).
• The Cleveland Guardians ranks 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (795).
• The Toronto Blue Jays ranks 1st in the league for ERA this season (3.72).
• The Toronto Blue Jays ranks 2nd in the league for runs allowed this season (462).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m staying with the Blue Jays here. Manoah hasn’t been too bad over his last three starts, with a total of 16.1 innings, seven earned, 13 hits and nine walks. If he can come up with a quality outing here the Jays should be set up well. As for Syndergaard, he’s been quite choppy over his last trio with 12 earned runs in a span of 14.1 total frames. Toronto will have a good shot at scoring early in this one. On Wednesday the Jays posted a rough offensive evening but ultimately prevailed thanks to a nice pitching performance from Kevin Gausman and the pen. I think Toronto will keep it up in the finale.