Philadelphia Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays Prediction, 8/16/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Philadelphia Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays

Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Location: Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON

TV: Sportsnet

Odds/Point Spread: Philadelphia (+130) Toronto (-155)

The Philadelphia Phillies (65-54) are en route to Rogers Centre on Wednesday where they will meet the Toronto Blue Jays (66-54). The odds on this game have the Phillies at +130 and the Blue Jays are coming in at -155. The total has been set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers will be Aaron Nola and Kevin Gausman.

Philadelphia has a slugging rate of .421 and have struck out 1,085 times, while taking a walk on 379 occasions. They have compiled 531 runs batted in and 1,044 hits so far this year, while their team batting average is at .256. The Phillies have hit 219 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 137 balls out of the stadium. They have 550 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .324. As a unit, the Philadelphia Phillies are knocking in 4.6 runs per game, which ranks them 13th in MLB.

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The Phillies hold a team ERA of 3.97 for the season (10th in MLB), and the staff has rung up 1,062 batters. Phillies pitchers have surrendered 137 home runs in addition to 517 runs (14th in the league). They have walked 344 opposing players and their FIP is 4.03 as a unit this season. Philadelphia has allowed 972 base hits (8.3 per 9 innings) in addition to 467 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 3.09 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.24.

The Phillies bullpen have compiled a save rate of 65.4% and has stepped onto the mound in 105 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 141 runners this year with 35.5% of them ended up crossing the plate. Phillies relief pitchers have come into the game with runners on 98 times as well as having 129 appearances in high leverage situations. The Phillies have dispatched 381 relief pitchers to the mound over the course of the season. The relievers have 53 holds for the year (25th in the league). They have compiled 34 saves for the year and have blown 18 of 52 chances to save the game.

The Phillies have converted 69.5% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 9,534 innings on the field, ranking them 11th in the majors. The Philadelphia Phillies have a total of 3,178 putouts thus far, in addition to 1,022 assists and 62 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .985 which puts them in 17th in pro baseball, and have a total of 85 double plays.

Nola (87-70 mark in his career) has earned a FIP of 3.38 while going up against 5,630 opposing batters during his time in the major leagues. He has surrendered 1,190 hits (7.8 hits per 9 innings) and has 361 free passes. His earned run average is 3.70 (566 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.127. Nola has taken the mound for 1,376 frames and is sitting with 1,533 strikeouts so far in his pro baseball career.

The Toronto Blue Jays have accounted for a team OBP of .331 as well as a team batting average of .261 so far this season. They have struck out on 973 occasions (21st in MLB) and have totaled 1,076 base knocks. Toronto has knocked in 138 home runs for the season as well as 514 RBIs. The Blue Jays hold a team slugging % of .417 and they tally 4.50 runs per game (16th in MLB). They have recorded 212 doubles, while getting a free base 392 times and notching 540 runs.

The Blue Jays have a WHIP of 1.247 and have a FIP of 4.08 as a pitching staff so far this season. They are currently ranked 13th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 972. The Toronto pitching staff have given up 481 runs for the year while having a team ERA of 3.70 (440 earned runs surrendered). Their K/BB ratio comes in at 9.40 (1,121 strikeouts against 363 free passes). They have surrendered 144 dingers and they relinquish 4.05 runs per 9 innings (1st in MLB).

Toronto has had relief pitchers step onto the hill in 54 save opportunities and they have recorded 41 saves. They sit at 2nd in MLB holding a save rate of 75.9%, and they have dispatched 402 relief pitchers onto the field so far this year. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 136 times in high leverage situations in addition to 125 occasions with runners on. Toronto bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 21.1% out of 180 inherited base runners. Sitting with 134 save situations, the Blue Jays have earned 80 holds in addition to 13 blown saves.

In 9,636 innings played, the Blue Jays have earned a defensive efficiency of 69.4% (13th in MLB). The Toronto Blue Jays have gotten 97 double plays and have a fielding rate of .987 (7th in MLB). The Blue Jays have racked up 956 assists, 53 errors and are sitting with 3,212 putouts for the season.

Gausman (85-88 career record) has earned a 3.85 ERA and has surrendered 8.9 hits per 9 innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.80 and he has gone up against 6,255 batters in his MLB career. He has allowed 638 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.264 and a FIP of 3.6. During his MLB career, Gausman has given up 1,476 hits while he has tallied 1,549 strikeouts in 1,491 innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Philadelphia (+130)

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