Look Toward Total In Dodgers Vs Blue Jays

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays, 3:07 ET

Baseball has so many games it is hard to get overly excited about some of the matchups, but this Saturday game gives us an opportunity to get the juices flowing. There are two good offenses facing off. There are two strong pitchers on the mound. There are a lot of reasons to be interested in this game as the Dodgers take on the Blue Jays in Toronto. 

If you pull up the Dodgers team stats they have Mookie Betts leading the team in home runs with six, and RBIs with 21. Somehow that guy isn’t even leading the team in batting average as Shohei Ohtani is hitting .371. How awesome must it be to have two of the best hitters in the game, and not even mention the fact that you have Freddie Freeman as well? The Dodgers don’t have any major hole, and if they did, they probably would find someone to fill it. They struggled with starting pitching last season, so what did they do? They went out and traded for one of the best available and got today’s starter, Tyler Glasnow. So far, Glasnow has been as good as advertised and been worth everything they sent over to Tampa. For the season, he is 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. Glasnow has 44 strikeouts in just 37 innings and has issued only nine walks. He has allowed four home runs which is something we may want to keep an eye on, but I think that won’t be an issue long term. Glasnow has produced four quality starts in six outings. Having pitched in the AL East for so long, Glasnow does have experience against the Blue Jays, allowing 11 hits in 75 at-bats. Four of them have left the park. 

Apr 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) throws a pitch against the New York Mets during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

I’m not quite sure why I root for Toronto to be a good team each year, but I do. Perhaps it is that they have former big leaguers’ kids on the team, maybe it is the team colors, who knows? I really can’t explain it, but I do like the team and think they have the potential to be one of the best teams in the American League. That hasn’t come to fruition yet, and I am still waiting for them to really start dominating regularly. The offense, which should be one of their biggest strengths hasn’t body bagged other teams this season and is hitting just over .230 for the year. They also are still under 100 runs as a team in over 25 games. At some point, you have to think that they will get things going, but you have to evaluate them based on what they are actually doing, not just what you hope/think. They haven’t had a great pitching staff, but with an ERA of 4.15 it could certainly be worse. Today they also get their best pitcher to duel Glasnow. Yusei Kikuchi is taking the mound and he has been superb for them. Kikuchi has gone 27.2 innings and allowed just 22 hits and seven earned runs which puts his ERA at 2.28. He has struck out 33 in comparison to just eight walks, and only let two balls leave the yard. Dodgers hitters are pretty good against him, going 28-for-85, with almost half of the hits being for extra bases. 

It is hard to go against the Blue Jays here, but I do think the Dodgers win. However, the stronger play is to take the under for the game. Glasnow is dealing right now and offering very little to opponents. The same can be said for Kikuchi. I understand the success of the Dodgers off of him in the past, but he is locked in. I’m taking the under for the first five innings of this one. 

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