After being “punched right in the face” lately, to use John Schneider’s words, this has been a bruising stretch for the Toronto Blue Jays, but they’ll look to hit back as they face the Minnesota Twins this afternoon.
It’s been a miserable May for the Blue Jays, who’ve slipped to the bottom of the AL East and had defied MLB odds to go 2-9 over their past 11 games before winning the series opener in Minnesota last night behind homers from Kevin Kiermaier and Bo Bichette.
The Twins lead the AL Central but they’re navigating a mini-slump of their own, losing four of their last five games, and they could only turn their five hits into a single run against Kevin Gausman in yesterday’s 3-1 defeat.
Find out more in our free MLB picks and predictions for Blue Jays vs. Twins on May 27.
Blue Jays vs Twins odds
Blue Jays vs Twins predictions
It’s rarely a great sign to have to wedge in an impromptu players and staff meeting in the midst of a busy stretch of the schedule, but the Blue Jays did just that after losing three out of four games in Tampa Bay this week.
Toronto was outplayed in that series, despite a 20-1 win over the Rays on Wednesday, but whatever was said in the visitors’ clubhouse on Thursday afternoon seemed to give the Blue Jays a spark last night. Maybe that was just the wake-up call this Toronto team needed.
I like Schneider’s men in this spot again today, with Chris Bassitt taking the ball. Bassitt has strung together four excellent starts this month and held three of those four opponents scoreless, including going the full nine innings in the May 12 win over the Atlanta Braves.
The veteran righty’s mix of pitches should keep the Twins off balance, and the hosts have struggled to cash in on scoring opportunities. They stranded 13 base runners last night and have posted more than three runs just once in their last five outings.
Toronto has won its last four games against AL Central opponents and is 5-2 in its last seven visits to Target Field, while Minnesota is 1-6 in its past seven contests against a right-handed starter. I’m taking these odds for the Blue Jays to prove that last night was no one-game fluke and show the consistency that’s been lacking this month.
My best bet: Blue Jays moneyline (-105 at bet365)
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Blue Jays vs Twins moneyline analysis
With Bassitt and Pablo Lopez facing off in what should be an even pitching duel, the odds are right down the middle for this afternoon’s game — and if the battle between the starters is a wash, I like this Toronto line-up to deliver the clutch hits.
The visitors have the edge over Minnesota in runs, hits, and batting average this season, and Bichette, in particular, has been red hot at the plate over the past week, notching 12 hits over his past six games.
The Blue Jays’ World Series credentials are under the microscope after dropping series to the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Rays over the past few weeks, and last night’s response was a good sign.
Danny Jansen’s strained groin means a trip to the 10-day IL and Toronto will miss his steady presence. There was better injury news for the Twins yesterday, with key man Carlos Correa returning from a two-game absence and getting on base three times.
Blue Jays vs Twins Over/Under analysis
After a low-scoring series opener last night, this 8-run line feels about right with two quality starters on the mound. Still, the trends scream Over, which is 6-1 in the Blue Jays’ last seven games and 4-1 in their last five road outings.
Correa and Joey Gallo are the two Twins players who’ve seen double-digit at-bats against Bassitt — and both have fared well, combining for three homers and nine hits. The Toronto righty should be more of a mystery for the rest of this Minnesota line-up though.
As for Lopez, the Blue Jays have had some success, albeit in a small sample size. Brandon Belt and Kiermaier have gone deep against him, while Whit Merrifield has two hits in three at-bats.
The Minnesota right-hander boasts a solid 3.90 ERA this season but has given up five hits in each of his last two starts and didn’t make it to the fifth innings against the L.A. Dodgers two weeks ago.
Blue Jays vs Twins game info
| Location: | Target Field, Minneapolis, MN |
| Date: | Saturday, May 27, 2023 |
| First pitch: | 2:10 p.m. ET |
| TV: | SNET, BSNO |
Starting pitchers
Chris Bassitt (5-3, 3.03 ERA): After a rough start to the year, Bassitt has settled in as the reliable arm that Toronto envisioned with their summer deal. His WHIP is down to 1.04, though he allowed six runs (only two earned) in Monday’s 6-4 loss to Tampa Bay. He hasn’t walked more than two batters in any of his last three starts.
Pablo Lopez (2-3, 3.90 ERA): Lopez is coming off a nine-strikeout effort against the L.A. Angels last Friday, and his 1.10 WHIP puts him among the Top 25 in baseball in that category. The 27-year-old, who has signed a big-money extension with the Twins, relies heavily on his fastball and changeup but look out for a slider that he’s recently added to the mix.
Latest injuries
Trend to know
A 3-1 scoreline last night wasn’t indicative of the type of run-scoring drama these teams have provided against each other in recent years — the Over is 6-2 in their last eight meetings. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Twins
