MLB Predictions: Blue Jays vs Phillies Lines
The Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays continue their series in the City of Brotherly Love with game two in the set on Tuesday. Toronto won the series opener on Monday night, claiming a 3-0 decision.
Toronto Blue Jays (15-17) at Philadelphia Phillies (15-15)
Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Time: 7:05 PM ET
Venue: Citizens Bank Ballpark
City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
O/U Odds: 7.5
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Money Line: Philadelphia -118, Toronto +108
Pitching Matchup: RH Drew Hutchison (1-2, 3.82 ERA) at LH Cole Hamels (0-2, 6.75 ERA)
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Toronto starter J.A. Happ was able to escape some trouble on Monday night, surrendering eight baserunners in five innings of work, but keeping the Phillies off the scoreboard, then getting backed by his bullpen who completed the shutout. The Phillies spoiled a solid outing by Kyle Kendrick, who gave up three runs in seven strong innings.
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The Blue Jays now turn to Drew Hutchison in this one. Hutchison has been a pleasant surprise for the team. He had a strong 2012 campaign, but missed all of the 2013 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Now, a year later, he’s back, and pitching as well as he did before he went under the knife.
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Through his first six starts o the season, Hutchison has posted a 3.82 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP against tough competition. After watching Happ spin a strong outing on Monday night, he’ll look to offer up a similar strong start.
Hutchison will be looking to bounce back after a tough luck start in his last outing. Hutchison gave up only five hits and walked just one batter in seven innings of work against the Royals in Kansas City, but four of those runners scored, and Hutchison was saddled with a loss.
He’ll be opposed by veteran Cole Hamels in this one. Injuries caused Hamels to get a late start to the season, and he’s had a good start, and a bad one, since returning. He’ll look to bounce back from a tough outing against the Mets, in which he gave up six runs on eight hits, walking five.
Hamels has been given some extra rest since that start, a situation he’s typically fared quite well in. One thing that’s out of his control is it appears run support could be an issue again this year after it plagued him in 2013. Through his first two starts, he’s been given only three runs of support.
After watching both teams struggle to score runs in game one of this series, it’s tough not to imagine each of Tuesday’s pitchers not finding some level of success in this one. Hutchison has been one of the better kept secrets in baseball, but if he continues to provide the Blue Jays with strong outings, that won’t last long.
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As for Hamels, his rough start against the Mets will only serve as motivation when he toes the rubber in this one against a Blue Jays team that has been inconsistent on offense.
The under is 5-0 in Hutchison’s last five road starts, and 9-1-2 in Hamels’s last 12 home starts.
The play: Under 7.5
