Phillies vs Blue Jays Preview: Nola, Phillies Favored to Clinch Second Straight Road Series

Runs appear likely to be on the menu for the second game of the Phillies vs Blue Jays series, even with one of the league’s top arms on the hill tonight.

Last night, the Phillies shut down the Blue Jays in the series opener. However, don’t expect a repeat outcome tonight in Dunedin, Florida. Here’s a look at the matchup and why the forecast favors runs and why that makes the Blue Jays good value as a home underdog.

Philadelphia Phillies (21-18) vs Toronto Blue Jays (20-17), Sportsnet One, 7:37 pm ET

Pitching Matchup: Philadelphia Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays

• Philadelphia Phillies: Aaron Nola (3-2, 3.59 ERA)
• Toronto Blue Jays: Anthony Kay (0-2, 10.24 ERA)

Philadelphia Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Phillies -138, Blue Jays +118
• Total: OVER 10 (-106), UNDER 10 (-114)
• Run Line: Phillies -1.5 (+106), Blue Jays +1.5 (-128)

Phillies vs Blue Jays odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Saturday, May 15 at 6:30 pm ET. For more MLB betting odds, check out our MLB odds, featuring updated odds from BetOnline and other top online sportsbooks.

Road Success Reaping Rewards for Surging Phillies

Entering today’s MLB action, the Phillies and 18-15 New York Mets sat atop the NL East standings. A recent surge has propelled the Phillies into that position, as they have won eight of their last 11 games.

Road success has had a hand in this run, as they are 4-3 on their current three-series road swing after last night’s 5-1 win over the Blue Jays. 4-3 doesn’t really look like anything to write home about, right? It certainly is when the Phillies were 4-9 on the road beforehand.

In last night’s win, a five-run seventh inning propelled the Phillies to the win. Rhys Hoskins hitting a key three-run double in the decisive frame, helping to deliver a win on a night Vince Velasquez and the bullpen shut down Toronto’s dangerous lineup.

Nola Aims to Return to Winning Ways, But a Concerning Trend Is in Play

Tonight the Phillies start Aaron Nola, who is looking for a win after losing his last start. Last Sunday against the Braves, Nola had his worst statistical outing of the season, allowing a season-high five runs in only four innings in a 6-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

The key for Nola will be to avoid a negative trend for one of baseball’s better hurlers. Look at his history in recent seasons. When a subpar outing happens, it is grouped with another one in consecutive starts or there are a couple in a three-start stretch. Against a lineup that is as dangerous as any in the league, there is every possibility that this trend could continue.

Trends Favor Blue Jays Breaking Out the Bats Tonight

Along with Nola’s habit of lumping bad outings together, the Blue Jays have their own trend that favors their success tonight.

In 37 games this season, the Blue Jays have been held to two runs or fewer ten times. And save for a three-game road stretch against the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox, they have responded well to being shut down. In the first nine instances, they scored five or more runs seven times and amassed 66 runs total. And in those nine games, Toronto is 6-3.

With Kay on the mound, the Blue Jays likely need to continue that production to take the win tonight. This will be his third start and fourth appearance of the season, and he has given up at least three runs in each without pitching more than more than four innings. All three appearances have been losses for the Blue Jays, but tonight there is a lot of value in the Blue Jays as a home underdog. In fact, as a home underdog, Toronto is 4-2 this season.

The Phillies are heavily backed in our MLB picks, but the value lies with the Blue Jays tonight. The +1.5 run line is also excellent value, given its relatively favorable odds The over also merits consideration. The over is 6-5-1 in Toronto’s games in Dunedin, but the Blue Jays are yet to have consecutive unders there. With matchups and trends favoring scoring, it’s over or bust.

Philadelphia Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays Betting Consensus

• Moneyline: 67% Phillies, 33% Blue Jays
• Total: 50% OVER, 50% UNDER (at O/U 10)
• Run Line: 33% Phillies, 67% Blue Jays

Philadelphia Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More