Houston Astros vs Toronto Blue Jays Prediction, 6/8/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Toronto Blue Jays

Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023

Location: Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON

TV: Sportsnet

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-130) Toronto (+110)

Rogers Centre is where the Toronto Blue Jays (34-28) will attempt to beat the Houston Astros (36-25) on Thursday. The moneyline on this contest has the Astros at -130 and the Blue Jays are at +110. The total is set at 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Framber Valdez and Jose Berrios.

As a unit, the Houston Astros are scoring 4.6 runs per game, which is 14th in the league. They have racked up 279 runs and hold an OBP of .318. The Astros have hit 100 doubles as a unit and have hit 68 baseballs out of the park. They have accounted for 267 RBI's in addition to 507 hits on the season, while their average at the plate is at .248. Houston has a slugging percentage of .401 and have been called out on strikes 496 times, while drawing a walk on 188 occasions.

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The Astros have compiled a team ERA of 3.25 this year (1st in MLB), and their staff has rung up 583 hitters. Astros pitchers have allowed 64 home runs and 218 total runs (1st in MLB). They have walked 175 players from the other team and their FIP is 3.78 as a team this year. Houston has yielded 485 hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and also 196 earned runs. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 3.33 and the pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.22.

The Astros relievers have a save percentage of 72.7% and stepped onto the hill in 54 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 52 base runners for the season with 28.8% of those players ended up crossing the plate. Astros bullpen pitchers have come into the game with players on base 30 times in addition to having 47 appearances in high leverage situations. The Astros have dispatched 187 relievers to the hill so far this season. The bullpen have recorded 31 holds over the course of the season (17th in baseball). They have recorded 16 saves on the campaign and have missed out on 6 of 22 chances to get a save.

The Houston Astros have notched a total of 1,628 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 505 assists and 24 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .989 which has them ranked 6th in MLB, and have a total of 54 double plays. The Astros have turned 69.0% of balls in play into outs out of their 4,884 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 16th in professional baseball.

Valdez has taken the ball for 593 innings and has totaled 581 punch outs during his pro baseball career. Valdez (47-27 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 3.55 while he has gone up against 2,482 hitters in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.22 (212 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.222. He has surrendered 500 base hits (7.6 hits per nine innings) and has 225 walks.

The Toronto Blue Jays have recorded a team OBP of .333 as well as a batting average of .265 for the year. They have been called out on strikes on 481 occasions (26th in the league) and have accounted for 572 base knocks. Toronto has knocked in 73 home runs for the year and 272 RBIs. The Blue Jays hold a slugging percentage of .426 and they tally 4.66 runs per game (11th in MLB). They have 113 doubles, while taking a walk 205 times and putting up 289 runs.

The Blue Jays have a WHIP of 1.265 in addition to having a FIP of 4.36 as a staff on the year. They are sitting at 10th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 492. The Toronto pitching staff have conceded 261 runs this season and come in with a team ERA of 3.86 (236 earned runs conceded). They currently have a strikeout to walk ratio of 9.60 (588 strikeouts vs 204 free passes). They have conceded 83 HR's and they relinquish 4.27 runs per 9 innings (9th in the league).

Toronto relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 21.3% out of 94 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 61 times in high leverage situations in addition to 65 occasions with base runners. Sitting with 59 save situations, the Blue Jays have 35 holds and also 6 blown saves. They are currently ranked 4th in baseball holding a save percentage of 75.0%, and they have sent 205 relievers onto the diamond on the year. Toronto has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the game in 24 save chances and they have walked away with 18 saves.

Out of their 4,956 innings on the diamond, the Blue Jays have a defensive efficiency of 69.9% (11th in MLB). The Toronto Blue Jays have gotten 46 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .985 (17th in professional baseball). The Blue Jays have accrued 488 assists, 32 errors and have 1,652 putouts this year.

In his pro baseball career, Berrios has given up 1,040 base hits and he has 1,074 punch outs in 1,095 innings pitched. He has given up a total of 511 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.254 and a FIP of 4.0. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.23 and he has gone up against 4,636 opposing batters during his MLB career. Berrios (77-58 career record) has a 4.20 earned run average while allowing 8.5 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston (-130)

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