It’s Shohei time in Toronto as the Los Angeles Angels come to town for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday night at Rogers Centre.
The Angels took both legs of a doubleheader on Thursday in Detroit against the Tigers, so there could be some tired arms and legs on the squad heading into this matchup.
Bet on Angels vs. Blue Jays
The Blue Jays had Thursday off after cruising to an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon.
Toronto is a big -192 favourite at bet365 and the total is set at 8.5 runs.
Angels vs. Blue Jays odds
| Blue Jays Moneyline Odds | -192 |
| Angels Moneyline Odds | +167 |
| Runline odds | Blue Jays -1.5 (+105), Angels +1.5 (-125) |
| Over/Under | 8.5 runs (over -110, under -110) |
| Time/Date | Friday, July 28, 7:07 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: Apple TV+ |
All odds courtesy of 
About the Angels (54-49 SU, 50-53 ATS, 50-47-6 o/u)
The Angels have won four straight and eight of their last nine to convince team executives to load up prior to the Aug. 1 trade deadline instead of shipping assets out of town.
Angels general manager Perry Minasian told reporters this week that the team won’t trade two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, who is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the season. Minasian also added right-hander Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez via trade this week to help bolster his club, which sits six games back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West and three games back of the Blue Jays for the final AL wild-card spot.
Ohtani had quite the doubleheader on Thursday for the red-hot Angels. In the opener, Ohtani tossed a complete-game, one-hit shutout to lift L.A. to a 6-0 victory. He then homered twice in the nightcap before leaving the game due to cramping in his back.
Ohtani’s cramping issues aren’t expected to keep him out of the lineup Friday, but there’s a possibility he could be held out depending on how he feels leading up to first pitch. The hot and humid conditions that are expected in Toronto on Friday night may also play a factor.
The Japanese star is not projected to pitch against Toronto during the three-game series.
Star outfielder Mike Trout is still on the shelf with a wrist injury and is tracking for a mid-August return.
About the Blue Jays (57-46 SU, 47-55 ATS, 44-52-6 o/u)
The Blue Jays have returned home for a seven-game homestand that will open on Friday night. After three games with the Angels, the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles will come to town for a four-game set. The squad will then depart for Boston for three games at Fenway Park against the Red Sox, who are hot on their heels in the AL wild-card chase.
Toronto finished its West Coast road trip with a 3-3 split that included stops in Seattle and Los Angeles. The Jays took two of three from the powerhouse Dodgers, so they’re riding high coming into this one, especially with their ace set to take the ball on Friday night.
With the trade deadline just days away, there’s plenty of speculation that the Jays will be cautious buyers in an attempt to solidify their current standing as a playoff team.
Shohei Ohtani over 0.5 home runs
Probable pitchers
Los Angeles: RHP Lucas Giolito (6-6, 3.79 ERA, 9.74 K/9, 1.22 WHIP)
Giolito is set to make his Angels debut on Friday night. He’s 2-2 with a 5.45 ERA in seven career starts against Toronto, but he’s held opponents to a .211 batting average in his past nine starts. His 131 strikeouts rank 10th in the AL.
Toronto: RHP Kevin Gausman (7-5, 3.18 ERA, 11.98 K/9, 1.12 WHIP)
Gausman leads the AL with 162 strikeouts and he’s 3-3 with a 4.78 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels. The righty was roughed up last time out by the Seattle Mariners, surrending four homers in a 9-8 loss. His numbers are exceptional at Rogers Centre this season, posting a 2.58 ERA while holding opponents to a .214 batting average.
Weather
There’s a heat warning issued for the city of Toronto on Friday, with temperatures expected to reach 28C, feeling like 37C this evening with the humidity. Clear skies are expected at first pitch, but there’s a chance of thunderstorms later. Winds will blow from right to left field at 12 km/h. The retractable dome could be closed due to the extreme heat, so bettors will want to monitor any developments throughout the day.
Betting trends
- The Angels are 7-1 on the runline in their last eight games.
- The Angels have played over their team total in 14 of their past 18 games.
- The Angels are 8-2 on the first five innings moneyline in their last 10 games.
- Toronto is 50-26 SU in non-division games (best in MLB).
Player prop trends
- Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak is riding a 16-game hitting streak, which includes seven multi-hit performances. He’s -175 to collect a hit, +165 to score a run, and +360 to double (which he’s done in three straight games).
- As previously mentioned, Ohtani is coming off a two-homer outburst against the Tigers and he leads the majors in bombs with 38. He’s +360 to homer and +4000 to record two jacks.
Wagers to consider
- Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk has had success against Giolito, hitting .364 with three homers and six RBIs in 11 career at-bats against him. As of Friday morning, bet365 didn’t have any player props for Kirk posted, but check back later in the day for the odds.
- Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette has five RBIs over his last three games (+190 to record over 0.5 RBIs on Friday) and he has a .364 average with a home run and four RBIs in 11 career at-bats against Giolito.
- Angels infielder Mike Moustakas is one of the few players on the team that has thrived against Gausman, posting a .385 average with two homers and five RBIs in 13 career at-bats against him.
- Blue Jays runline -1.5 (+105). Yes, the Angels have been playing some unbelievable baseball lately, but they should be pretty gassed after Thursday’s doubleheader followed by a short flight to Toronto. With Ohtani’s back not 100%, there’s also a slight chance he doesn’t play or gets pulled from the game early. With their ace on the mound, look for the Jays to get a comfortable win here in the series opener.
Other MLB games on Friday
| Home Team |  | | Away Team | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Marlins | -150 | +130 | Detroit Tigers | 6:40 PM |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | +135 | -155 | Philadelphia Phillies | 7:05 PM |
| Baltimore Orioles | +105 | -125 | New York Yankees | 7:05 PM |
| New York Mets | -192 | +167 | Washington Nationals | 7:10 PM |
| Chicago White Sox | +125 | -145 | Cleveland Guardians | 7:10 PM |
| Atlanta Braves | -185 | +165 | Milwaukee Brewers | 7:20 PM |
| Houston Astros | -105 | -115 | Tampa Bay Rays | 8:10 PM |
| Kansas City Royals | +140 | -160 | Minnesota Twins | 8:10 PM |
| St. Louis Cardinals | OTB | OTB | Chicago Cubs | 8:15 PM |
| Colorado Rockies | -120 | +100 | Oakland Athletics | 8:40 PM |
| San Diego Padres | -165 | +145 | Texas Rangers | 9:40 PM |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +115 | -135 | Seattle Mariners | 9:40 PM |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -245 | +205 | Cincinnati Reds | 10:10 PM |
| San Francisco Giants | -145 | +125 | Boston Red Sox | 10:15 PM |
