Blue Jays vs White Sox: Toronto Looks to Rebound in MLB Showdown

Toronto Blue Jays Look to Rebound Against the Chicago White Sox: MLB Predictions and Analysis

Introduction

The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a Canada Day weekend that felt like a fireworks show gone bad. Their struggles against the American League East continued as they were swept away at home by the Boston Red Sox. Tonight, the Jays will try to put that behind them and get those sparks flying in the right direction when they head to the Windy City to open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.

Analysis of Game 1

Game 1 of this series is an interesting one with two veteran right-handers featured as Chris Bassitt toes the rubber against Lucas Giolito. The Blue Jays are slight favorites for this Independence Day showdown, but is there value in the home underdog?

Toronto‘s Struggles Against the AL East

The Toronto Blue Jays have had a tough time against teams in the American League East this season, with a 7-20 record in divisional matchups. However, they have been much more successful against teams outside their division, boasting a 38-20 record and a .655 winning percentage.

Chris Bassitt’s Roller Coaster Season

Chris Bassitt, the veteran right-hander taking the mound for the Blue Jays, has had an up and down season. After a rocky start, he bounced back with a strong stretch before hitting a slump. However, he recently shut out the San Francisco Giants over six innings, showcasing his potential. Despite his inconsistencies, Bassitt has generally been a reliable pitcher and should be able to take advantage of a struggling White Sox team.

Chicago’s Struggles at the Plate

The Chicago White Sox have not been performing well this season, particularly against right-handed pitchers. They rank 27th in OPS and 25th in weighted runs created plus (wRC+) when facing righties. To have a chance at winning, the White Sox will need a strong performance from Lucas Giolito, their right-handed starter.

Toronto‘s Edge in Offense and Bullpen

Despite their noted struggles with runners in scoring position, the Blue Jays have been more consistent than the White Sox when it comes to hitting against right-handers. They rank seventh in OPS and fifth in wRC+ in this category. Additionally, Toronto has an advantage in the bullpen, with relievers ranking sixth in expected fielding independent pitching (xFIP) and fifth in strikeouts per nine innings, compared to the White Sox who rank 17th and 12th, respectively.

Editorial: Blue Jays’ Potential for Victory

Based on the analysis above, there is value in the Blue Jays as the slight favorites (-120 range). Despite their struggles within the AL East, their success against teams outside the division, combined with the White Sox’s struggles at the plate against right-handers, give the Blue Jays an edge. Additionally, Toronto‘s stronger bullpen further solidifies their chances of victory in this matchup.

Predictions

Our best bet is the Blue Jays moneyline (-120 at SIA). In addition, for a same-game parlay, we recommend the following picks:

• Blue Jays moneyline (-115)
• George Springer Over 1.5 total bases (-105)
• Lucas Giolito Under 17.5 outs recorded (+120)

The same-game parlay has a potential payout of +500 at bet365. This parlay is based on the theme of the Blue Jays having success in the Windy City, with Springer expected to perform well and Giolito potentially struggling against the Blue Jays’ offense.

Conclusion

The Toronto Blue Jays have a good chance of rebounding from their recent struggles against the Boston Red Sox. Against a struggling Chicago White Sox team, the Blue Jays’ offense and reliable pitching give them an edge in this matchup. While there is value in the home underdog, our best bet is on the Blue Jays to come out on top.