PREMIUM
3-Game MLB SWEEPER PASS
(MLB) Cleveland vs. Toronto,
Money Line: -165.00 Cleveland (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -165.00 Cleveland (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The struggling Blue Jays recorded a 4-2 victory in the opener of their three-game home series against the Cleveland Indians last night. Edwin Encarnacion was welcomed back to his old stomping grounds and was given repeated thunderous ovations by the Toronto faithful while going 2-for-3 with a walk in his first game against the team he left this past off-season. Encarnacion had topped 30 HRs in each of the last five seasons for the Blue Jays before becoming a free agent and signing with the Indians. Ryan Goins hit a two-run HR and Justin Smoak delivered a two-run single as the Blue Jays fired the opening salvo against the team that defeated them in last season's ALCS. However, at 12-20, the Jays own the second-worst record in the AL, as they look forward to the returns of Troy Tulowitzki (hamstring) and Josh Donaldson (calf) later this month. The Indians sit atop the AL Central but at a modest 17-14, there are three teams within 1 1/2 games of them.
The pitching matchup: Carlos Carrasco (3-2 & 2.18 ERA) gets the ball for Cleveland going up against Mike Bolsinger (1-4 & 6.83 ERA in 2016), who will make his 2017 debut. Carrasco defeated Detroit in his last outing, allowing two runs on five hits over six innings. He is 2-1 with a 6.26 ERA in five career appearances (four starts / team is 3-1) versus the Blue Jays. Bolsinger is being called up from Triple-A Buffalo to make a spot start as the club's rotation remains without Aaron Sanchez (fingernail) and J.A. Happ (elbow). He was 1-1 with a 1.46 ERA in four appearances (two starts) for Buffalo and owns an 8-16 record and 4.61 ERA in 37 career major-league appearances (36 starts). He first reached the majors with Arizona in 2014 and spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers each of the last two seasons. He has never faced the Indians.
The pick: Bolsinger will be the ninth starter used by Toronto already this season, a major reason (along with the injuries to Tulowitzki and Donaldson), as to why Toronto has struggled early on. No reason to expect a strong effort from Bolsinger in this one and note that Carrasco is 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA in three road starts this season, with a 20-3 KW ratio. Make Cleveland a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Carlos Carrasco (3-2 & 2.18 ERA) gets the ball for Cleveland going up against Mike Bolsinger (1-4 & 6.83 ERA in 2016), who will make his 2017 debut. Carrasco defeated Detroit in his last outing, allowing two runs on five hits over six innings. He is 2-1 with a 6.26 ERA in five career appearances (four starts / team is 3-1) versus the Blue Jays. Bolsinger is being called up from Triple-A Buffalo to make a spot start as the club's rotation remains without Aaron Sanchez (fingernail) and J.A. Happ (elbow). He was 1-1 with a 1.46 ERA in four appearances (two starts) for Buffalo and owns an 8-16 record and 4.61 ERA in 37 career major-league appearances (36 starts). He first reached the majors with Arizona in 2014 and spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers each of the last two seasons. He has never faced the Indians.
The pick: Bolsinger will be the ninth starter used by Toronto already this season, a major reason (along with the injuries to Tulowitzki and Donaldson), as to why Toronto has struggled early on. No reason to expect a strong effort from Bolsinger in this one and note that Carrasco is 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA in three road starts this season, with a 20-3 KW ratio. Make Cleveland a 10* play.
