A pair of surging AL East rivals are set to begin a three-game set at Yankee Stadium tonight when the New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees come into the contest with six wins in their last eight outings while the Blue Jays have picked up three straight victories.
Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi has not earned a win in seven straight starts but will try to turn things around and help his team solidify a Wild Card spot. Can Kikuchi figure things out in New York?
Find out in our free MLB picks and predictions for Blue Jays vs. Yankees on September 19.
Blue Jays vs Yankees odds
Blue Jays vs Yankees predictions
The New York Yankees’ postseason hopes are all but dashed as they sit six games back of the Rangers and Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot, but the Toronto Blue Jays remain in the thick of the playoff race, sitting one game up on both those two clubs heading into tonight's action. Needless to say, this will be a huge series for Toronto’s chances at locking up a Wild Card spot.
While the Blue Jays are coming off a series sweep of the Red Sox, it wasn’t their most impressive work as the club scored just 10 runs over the three-game set while prevailing in the last two games by just a single run. Toronto’s offense came to life at the beginning of the month but has died down again, averaging a mere 2.71 runs per game over its last seven contests.
New York has picked things up offensively of late, averaging 5.75 runs over its last four outings, but the Yankees still rank among the bottom of the league in terms of run production this month, sitting 25th in the majors with just 67 runs in 16 games.
Considering those factors, I like the Under on 8.5 runs tonight as my best bet, though that will depend on Yusei Kikuchi steadying the ship for Toronto. The southpaw was rocked for six earned runs in his last start against the Rangers on September 13 and has given up at least three runs in four of his last five outings.
Back in April, Kikuchi held the Yankees to just one run over six innings, so perhaps he’ll be able to channel that energy again tonight.
My best bet: Under 8.5 runs (-107 at SIA)
Blue Jays vs Yankees same-game parlay
Under 8.5 runs (-115)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2+ total bases (+115)
DJ LeMahieu 2+ total bases (+135)
Along with taking the Under, we’ll round out today’s same-game parlay by focusing on a couple of streaking sluggers: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and DJ LeMahieu.
Guerrero has been Toronto’s only bright spot offensively over the past week, driving in six of the club’s 15 RBI over the last six games while batting .318 with 16 total bases. The first baseman has multiple bases in three of his last four games and will likely need to have another good night to give the Jays a chance.
LeMahieu has also been hot at the plate for New York, notching a team-leading five RBI and 11 total bases over the past week to go along with a .364 batting average. The Yanks infielder also has at least two bases in four of his last five outings entering tonight’s game.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Blue Jays vs Yankees moneyline and Over/Under analysis
Tonight’s contest will be a pick'em with the Jays opening at -107 and the Yankees listed at -101 on the moneyline. Meanwhile, tonight’s total opened at 8.5 runs and has remained steady throughout the morning.
While the Jays sit a few games ahead of the Yankees in the standings, the clubs look eerily similar right now as both teams have been picking up wins, are struggling offensively, and are sending inconsistent starters to the mound.
Kikuchi could be the deciding factor in this one as the left-hander looks to rebound from a brutal performance last time out. The left-hander has only faced the Yankees once this season — an excellent start back in April — but he was also solid against them last year, posting a 3.54 ERA vs. New York across 20.1 innings of work. This game also means a lot more to the Blue Jays than it does for the Yankees, so I like the visitors to pull out the win.
The Under has been the money play for both clubs of late as it’s cashed in three straight games for Toronto while going 5-2-1 in New York’s last eight outings. The Under is also 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between the two clubs and I don’t see that trend changing with both offenses looking pretty tame.
Bet with one of Canada’s best
Looking to bet on some Jays action? Join Sports Interaction, the best in Canada for new bettors.
Trend to know
The Under is 6-0 in the last six meetings between these two teams at Yankee Stadium. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Yankees
Kentucky: Sports betting is coming!
Kentucky sports betting will launch on September 28 — but you can pre-register now!
Check out the best Kentucky sports betting apps, as well as the best Kentucky sportsbook promos!
21+ and present in KY. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Blue Jays vs Yankees game info
| Location: | Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY |
| Date: | Tuesday, September 19, 2023 |
| First pitch: | 7:05 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Sportsnet, YES |
Starting pitchers
Yusei Kikuchi (9-6, 3.81 ERA): Kikuchi looked dominant earlier this summer with a stretch of six straight starts allowing one earned run or less from mid-July to mid-August. However, things have gone sour since then for the southpaw, as he’s 0-3 over his last seven starts while giving up 20 runs (16 earned) over his last five games.
Clarke Schmidt (9-8, 4.56 ERA): Schmidt had a tough outing against the Red Sox in his last appearance on September 14, giving up seven hits and four runs (three earned) in 5 1/3 innings. It was the right-hander’s third straight game where he surrendered at least three earned runs.
Latest injuries
Weather
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
