Friday, October 14, 2016

Progressive Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Marco Estrada vs. Corey Kluber

The Toronto Blue Jays head to Progressive Field on Friday to take on the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the ALCS. The probable pitchers are Marco Estrada for the Blue Jays and Corey Kluber for the Indians. The Blue Jays have a 63-93-6 over/under mark and a 79-83-0 run line record, meaning they cover 49% of the time. The Indians are 75-86-0 against the run line and have a 80-70-11 over/under record. They cover the spread 47% of the time.

The Blue Jays head into this game with a 89-73 record, and they are 43-38 on the road. Starting pitcher Marco Estrada has a 9-9 record with an ERA of 3.48 and a WHIP of 1.12. He has 165 strikeouts during his 176 innings pitched and he has given up 132 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 6.8 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.15. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 4.11 and they have allowed 452 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .249 against the pen while they've been struck out 472 times and walked 136 times this year. As a unit, Toronto has given up 8.26 base hits per nine innings while striking out 8.1 hitters per nine. They are 6th in the Majors in team earned run average at 3.78. The Blue Jays pitchers have collectively given up 1,340 base hits and 613 earned runs. They have allowed 183 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Toronto as a pitching staff has walked 461 batters and struck out 1,314. They walk 2.8 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.1 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.23 and their FIP as a unit is 4.05.

As a team, Toronto is hitting .248, good for 23rd in the league while putting together a .236 average on the road. The Blue Jays have a .426 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .330 which is good for 6th in the league. They rank 24th in baseball with 8.38 hits per contest. Josh Donaldson comes into this game hitting .284 and his on-base percentage is at .404. He has 164 hits this season along with 122 runs scored and 99 runs batted in. He's struck out 119 times and has walked 109 times. Edwin Encarnacion is hitting .263 and he has an on-base percentage of .357. He has totaled 158 hits so far while scoring 99 runs and he's driven in 127. He has walked 87 times and has struck out 138 times. The Blue Jays have 1,358 hits, including 276 doubles and 221 home runs. They've stolen 54 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 24 times. Toronto has walked 632 times this season and they've struck out 1,362 times as a unit. They've left 1,120 men on base and have a team OPS of .755. They score 4.69 runs per contest and have scored a total of 759 runs so far this year.

Cleveland comes into this game with a 53-28 home mark and a 94-67 overall record. With an ERA of 3.14, Corey Kluber has a 18-9 record and a 1.06 WHIP. He has 227 strikeouts over the 215 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 170 hits. He has allowed 7.1 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.26. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.45 and they have given up 443 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .231 against the Indians bullpen while being struck out 514 times and walking 190 times this season. As a team, Cleveland has allowed 8.28 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.71 batters per nine. They are 7th in the league in team earned run average at 3.84. The Indians pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,330 base knocks and 617 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 186 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Cleveland as a staff has walked 461 hitters and struck out 1,398. They give up a walk 2.9 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.7 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.24 while their FIP as a staff is 3.91.

As a team, they are batting .262, good for 6th in the league while putting together a .288 average at home. The Indians hold a .430 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .329 which is good for 8th in baseball. They rank 9th in baseball with 8.91 hits per contest. Jason Kipnis comes into this matchup batting .275 and he has an OBP of .343. He has 168 hits this year along with 91 runs scored and 82 RBI. He's struck out 146 times and has walked on 60 occasions. Francisco Lindor is hitting .301 and he has an OBP of .358. He has collected 182 hits so far while he's scored 99 runs and drove in 78. He has earned a walk 57 times and has punched out 88 times. The Indians as a unit have 1,435 base hits, including 308 doubles and 185 homers. They have 134 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 31 times. Cleveland as a team has walked 531 times this year and they have struck out 1,246 times. They've had 1,084 men left on base and have an OPS of .759. They score 4.83 runs per game and have totaled 777 runs so far this season.

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends

The Toronto Blue Jays are 63-93-6 against the over/under so far this season

The Toronto Blue Jays are 79-83-0 against the run line so far this season

Cleveland Indians Betting Trends

The Cleveland Indians are 80-70-11 against the over/under so far this season

The Cleveland Indians are 75-86-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Toronto Blue Jays

10/09/16 2B Devon Travis Knee "?" Friday vs. Cleveland Indians
10/08/16 P Francisco Liriano Concussion out indefinitely
09/27/16 P Joaquin Benoit Calf out indefinitely
06/27/16 P Gavin Floyd Shoulder 60-day DL (6/26)

Cleveland Indians

10/01/16 P Carlos Carrasco Hand 60-day DL (9/17), out for season
09/13/16 P Danny Salazar Forearm out indefinitely
07/18/16 P Tommy Hunter Back 15-day DL (7/10)
07/07/16 P Zach McAllister Hip 15-day DL (7/6)
06/01/16 LF Marlon Byrd Suspension out for season
05/14/16 LF Michael Brantley Shoulder 60-day DL (5/10); out for season

Tony's Pick: Take the Indians

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink