Yankees vs. Blue Jays Preview & Odds

Both New York and Toronto have faced challenges down the stretch, but their top stars remain productive.

The Yankees were handed a heavy loss in Thursday’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. After four consecutive defeats, they aim to bounce back tonight.

Marcus Stroman will be starting against his former team, but the main spotlight will be on the anticipated slugger’s duel between Aaron Judge and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Slugger Showdown: Judge vs. Guerrero Jr.

Both Aaron Judge and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have been in excellent form, making them the key players to watch in tonight’s game.

Player Focus: Aaron Judge

New York Yankees Outfielder

Aaron Judge had an off-night on Thursday, going 0-for-4, but he’s expected to rebound. Judge is leading the AL MVP race and has been phenomenal in June, leading MLB with 32 RBIs, and ranking third in home runs (10) and batting average (.382).

Judge’s Recent Performance

• Home Runs: 10 in June
• Batting Average: .382 in June
• RBIs: 32 in June

Pitcher Analysis: Yusei Kikuchi

Yusei Kikuchi has struggled recently, coming off his worst start of the year against the Guardians. Over his last nine games, he has allowed nine home runs, making him vulnerable to power hitters like Judge.

Kikuchi’s Recent Stats

• Last Start: 8 hits, 4 runs in 2 innings
• Home Runs Allowed: 9 in last 9 games
• Earned Runs: At least 4 in 4 of last 6 starts

Betting Picks and Predictions

Key Matchup: Judge vs. Kikuchi

Judge’s hot streak and Kikuchi’s recent struggles make this an intriguing matchup. Even if Judge doesn’t hit a home run, he’s likely to get good looks later in the game against Toronto’s bullpen, which ranks poorly in home runs allowed.

Same-Game Parlay (SGP)

1. Aaron Judge to Record a Hit
2. Judge to Hit a Home Run
3. Yankees Over 4.5 Runs

These bets are well-correlated given Judge’s current form and Kikuchi’s susceptibility to long balls.

Toronto’s Offensive Surge

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been a standout for the Blue Jays, mirroring Judge’s impressive performance. Guerrero Jr. has hit four home runs and collected 12 RBIs in his last six games.

Odds and Betting Analysis

Opening Odds

• Run Line: New York -1.5 (+145) | Toronto +1.5 (-161)
• Moneyline: New York -114 | Toronto +105
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-112)

Market Movements

• The Yankees opened as slight favorites, but the game is now viewed as a pick’em by many sportsbooks.
• Bettors are leaning towards New York, with 62% taking the Yankees on the moneyline.
• The total opened at 8.5 runs, with 67% of the public favoring the Over.

Recent Trends

• Head-to-Head: Toronto is 4-1 against New York in the last five meetings at Rogers Centre.
• Total Trends: The Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these teams, 7-1 in Yankees’ last eight games, and 4-1 in Jays’ last five games.

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Betting

Bet Type	Odds	Analysis
Run Line	NYY -1.5 (+145)	High value considering potential Yankees rebound
Moneyline	NYY -114	Slight edge to Yankees; recent struggles for both teams
Over/Under	Over 8.5 (+100)	Public favoring Over; recent trends support high scoring

The Yankees are looking to turn things around with a strong performance from Aaron Judge against a struggling Yusei Kikuchi.

View current MLB odds here