The Toronto Blue Jays know better than most that you can’t overlook a pitcher just because they are making their major league debut. That will be the case when they open a series against the Cleveland Indians, who hand the ball to Eli Morgan in his first career start.
But Morgan’s debut will be a tough one against a strong Blue Jays lineup, while facing off against ace Hyun-jin Ryu. Check out our MLB free picks and predictions for Blue Jays vs. Indians on Friday, May 28, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Blue Jays vs Indians game info
• Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
• Date: Friday, May 28, 2021
• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• TV: SN1, BSGL
Blue Jays vs Indians odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare MLB odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Blue Jays vs Indians betting preview
Starting pitchers
Hyun-jin Ryu (4-2, 2.53 ERA): Ryu has been great for most of the season but he’s in a real groove right now. The lefty has pitched three straight quality starts with a 1.31 ERA and an 0.92 WHIP. And you can really tell Ryu is in a groove because his command is on point, striking out 20 batters compared to just two walks over that span.
Eli Morgan (MLB debut): Morgan is a right-hander who is more old school than most of today’s pitching prospects. Morgan relies on a four-pitch mix and his command to get batters out. He went 0-1 with a 3.95 ERA while striking out 13 batters in 13 2-3 innings at AAA Columbus.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Blue Jays: Ryan Borucki RP (Questionable), George Springer CF (Out), Cavan Biggio UTL (Out), Julian Merryweather RP (Out), Alejandro Kirk C (Out).
Indians: Amed Rosario SS (Questionable), Jordan Luplow CF (Out), Franmil Reyes DH (Out), Roberto Perez C (Out), Cam Hill RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 6-3 in Hyun-jin Ryu’s nine starts this season. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Indians.
Runline pick
Both Toronto and Cleveland come into this game with some momentum, as each is coming off a series win. But there is a reason the Blue Jays have a sizeable edge in this one.
First of all, the Blue Jays won’t take Eli Morgan lightly after watching their own Alek Manoah dominate the Yankees in his own Big-League debut just a day ago. That said, Morgan doesn’t come into this one as highly touted as Manoah and has to deal with a Blue Jays lineup that's fifth in runs per game, batting average, and OPS, and second in home runs
Then there's Ryu. The southpaw has been excellent in his second season with the Blue Jays. For a guy whose command is paramount, his might be at an all-time high, and he's using that elite location to keep hitters off balance and create a lot of soft contact.
Friday, Ryu goes up against a Cleveland lineup that ranks 28th in batting average and 26th in OPS in the MLB when it comes to facing left-handers. With all that in mind, the Blue Jays are getting decent value on the runline.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under pick
The total for this American League matchup hit the board at 8.0 and it feels like the Jays will have to do most of the heavy lifting if this one is going to go Over.
Not only has the Under been profitable in Ryu’s starts, but he's allowed two earned runs or fewer seven times in his nine starts this season. He takes on a Cleveland team that ranks 23rd in scoring, putting up just 4.03 runs per game.
On the other side, if Morgan gets into trouble, he has the support of one of the best bullpens in baseball. The Cleveland relievers rank second in ERA and first in opponent batting average. And while the Jays lineup packs a punch at the plate, they have scored four runs or fewer four times in their last six games.
We like this one to sneak below the number.
PREDICTION: Under 8 (-110)
Blue Jays vs Indians betting card
- Blue Jays -1.5 (+105)
- Under 8 (-110)
Picks made on 5/27/2021 at 11:15 p.m. ET
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