The Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers open a three-game series at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday night with the first pitch at 7:10 PM ET, so we bring you the best Jays vs. Tigers betting pick along with the latest team stats and odds. 

According to MyBookie Sportsbook, the Blue Jays are firm -190 moneyline favorites with a total of 8.5 runs, while the Tigers are listed as +160 home dogs. These two American League foes meet for the first time in 2022, and Toronto shoots for its third straight win over Detroit. 

The Jays dropped three of their last six contests                                 

The Toronto Blue Jays put an end to their eight-game winning streak last Friday, suffering a heavy 9-3 home loss to the Twins. They eventually dropped a three-game set against Minnesota before a 2-1 series win on the road over the Kansas City Royals. 

After blanking the Crowns in the first two games, 8-0 and 7-0, the Jays suffered an 8-4 defeat this past Wednesday. Toronto fell to 33-23 and half a game behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, who trailed the mighty Yankees by 6.5 games. 

Jose Berrios (4-2) will take the mound Friday and search for his second straight win. The 28-year-old right-hander fanned 13 across seven innings of a two-run ball in a 12-3 routing of the Twins last Saturday. Berrios has struggled for most of the season and holds a pedestrian 5.24 ERA, 4.71 FIP, and 1.41 WHIP in 11 starts and 56.2 innings of work.  

The Tigers aim for their third win in a row                                 

The Detroit Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 last Wednesday and swept a two-game interleague series on the road. It was their seventh victory in the last 11 games overall, as the Cats bounced back from a rough three-game sweep at the Yankees over the weekend. Detroit improved to 23-33 on the season, sitting at the fourth spot in the AL Central. 

The Tigers still own the lowest-scoring offense in the majors, tallying only 2.82 runs per game. They also hit the fewest home runs in baseball (30). On the pitching side of things, Detroit carries a 3.89 ERA (6th in the MLB) into the Blue Jays series. 

Elvin Rodriguez will get the starting call Friday, and the 24-year-old righty is 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in three starts and one relief appearance (16 innings) in 2022. He was obliterated for ten earned runs on 11 hits (four homers) in a 13-0 defeat at Yankee Stadium this past Friday. 

Trends:

Toronto: 

  • 11-3 in the last 14 games overall  
  • 7-1 in the last eight games on the road 
  • 8-3 in Jose Berrios’ 11 starts in 2022  

Detroit:

  • 0-5 in the last five games against the AL East 
  • 2-5 in the last seven home games against Toronto 

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Detroit Tigers Pick 

Jose Berrios and the Tigers know each other very well. The current Cats are slashing only .132/.216/.161 in 68 at-bats against the former Twin. Despite Berrios’ poor run of form in 2022, the Blue Jays have gone 8-3 in his 11 starts, so I’m backing the visitors to win. 

Elvin Rodriguez will have a mountain to climb in this matchup. The Blue Jays are hitting .301/.380/.537 with 35 doubles and 24 home runs in their last 13 outings. The Tigers, on the other side, have a .227/.267/.329 triple-slash in their last 13 showings. 

Pick: Take Toronto Blue Jays at -190                              

The Total:

The Blue Jays are killing it at the plate, but the totals are a tricky wager in this matchup. I’ve mentioned the Tigers’ toothless offense, while their bullpen has recorded an impressive 1.31 ERA, 2.70 FIP, and .200 BABIP in the last ten days of action (34.1 innings pitched). 

I lean the over because of Toronto’s terrifying lineup, but Comerica Park is not a hitter-friendly environment. Jose Berrios could enjoy a good day on the mound, while the Jays’ bullpen has a 3.96 ERA, 3.72 FIP, and .337 BABIP through its last 36.1 frames of work. 

Pick: Go over 8.5 runs at -120