The Toronto Blue Jays (2-2) take on the Houston Astros (0-4) Monday in the opener of a 3-game set at Minute Maid Park at 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jays vs. Astros odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Blue Jays won 5-2 last year
The Jays won the opener and finale of their 4-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays. They took Sunday’s tilt 9-2 as 3B Justin Turner went 3-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBI. RHP Kevin Gausman went 4 1/3 IP, allowing a run and striking out 6. He dealt with shoulder soreness in the spring, and he was lifted after 69 pitches as he ramps it back up.
Raise your hand if you had the Astros starting the season 0-4 … I’ll wait. Indeed, the New York Yankees completed a 4-game sweep with a 4-3 win Sunday. Closer Josh Hader entered a tied game in the 9th for the 3rd time in 4 games and got touched up for the go-ahead run on 2 hits. He had thrown 2 hitless innings with 5 K’s before that. The good news, though, is Houston lost 3 of those games by 1 run.