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MLB baseball returns today and one of the games on the board that I like is the 41-47 Toronto Blue Jays versus the 39-48 Detroit Tigers playing in the first game of a three-game set at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan tonight. The first pitch of the opener at Comerica Park is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET.
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The betting odds for the series opener list the Tigers as a small -116 favorite over the visiting Jays with a total line offered up at 9 runs.
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In their last game before the All Star break the Blue Jays lost to the Houston Astros 19-1. In the game the Blue Jays scored one run on seven hits and the Astros scored 19 runs on 17 hits.
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In their last game before the All Star break the Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 5-3. In the game the Tigers scored five runs on 10 hits and the Indians scored three runs on eight hits.
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This season the Blue Jays rank 26th in the Majors in runs scored and 17th in team ERA.
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The Tigers rank 15th in the Majors in runs scored and 26th in team ERA.
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<h2>
Pitching Match Up<br />
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Toronto: Aaron Sanchez (0-2, 4.85 ERA)<br />
Detroit: Justin Verlander (5-6, 4.73 ERA)
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Aaron Sanchez goes for the Blue Jays in the first game of this series and in his last start he was lit up for five earned runs in only one inning in a 12-2 loss to the Houston Astros. The Blue Jays have lost his last two starts where he has given up eight earned runs in seven innings. Sanchez’s last start was his first in a month and a half after being on the DL with a blister issue. In five career appearances against the Tigers he has an ERA of 2.00. Toronto is only 1-4 in Sanchez’s last five road starts, but they are 5-1 in his last six starts against a team with a losing record.
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Justin Verlander gets the nod for the Tigers tonight and in his last outing he had a good one only giving up one earned run in six innings, but he got no support in a 4-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians. The Tigers have lost three of his last four starts and previous to his last outing he had given up 13 earned runs in 15 innings in three starts. In 11 career starts against the Blue Jays Verlander is 3-4 with an ERA of 4.76. The Tigers have won five of Verlander’s last six home starts, but they have lost seven of his last eight starts against a team with a losing record.
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<h2>
Betting Angles<br />
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The Blue Jays are 4-1 in their last 5 games against the Tigers.
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In the last 6 games between these teams the Under record is 5-0-1.
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In the last 8 games between these teams in Detroit the Over record is 6-1-1.
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This season the Tigers are 23-20 at home and the Blue Jays are 19-23 on the road.
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Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records<br />
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Toronto Blue Jays: 41-47 SU / O/U 42-40 / Run Line W/L 37-51<br />
Detroit Tigers: 39-48 SU / O/U 44-37 / Run Line W/L 42-45
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<h2>
Toronto at Detroit Key Betting Trends<br />
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TOR is 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing record
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TOR is 16-5 in their last 21 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game
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TOR has an Over record of 4-0-1 in their last 5 games
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DET is 3-8 in their last 11 vs. a team with a losing record
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DET is 1-4 in their last 5 games following a win
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DET has an Under record of 4-1-1 in their last 6 games
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<h3>
Key Player Injuries<br />
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<b>BLUE JAYS</b><br />
[LF] 05/24/2017 - Anthony Alford 10-day DL (05/24) ( Wrist )<br />
[P] 06/06/2017 - J.P. Howell 10-day DL (06/05) ( Shoulder )<br />
[P] 06/19/2017 - Joe Smith 10-day DL (06/19) ( Shoulder )<br />
[3B] 06/16/2017 - Chris Coghlan 10-day DL (06/16) ( Wrist )<br />
[2B] 07/01/2017 - Devon Travis 60-day DL (06/06) ( Knee )<br />
[C] 07/05/2017 - Luke Maile 10-day DL (07/04) ( Knee )<br />
[CF] 04/03/2017 - Dalton Pompey 60-day DL (03/30) ( Concussion )<br />
[P] 04/09/2017 - Bo Schultz 60-day DL (03/30) ( Elbow )<br />
[CF] 05/20/2017 - Darrell Ceciliani 10-day DL (05/19) ( Shoulder )
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<b>TIGERS</b><br />
[P] 07/06/2017 - Daniel Norris 10-day DL (07/06) ( Groin )
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