Blue Jays Return Home to Take on Tribe

Tribe Making Noise in AL Central; Blue Jays Have Decisions to Make

The Toronto Blue Jays have headed back home to the Rogers Centre to take on one of the hottest teams in the MLB, the Cleveland Indians. They have clawed their way back into the AL Central race following a stretch that saw them win 14 of 17 games surrounding the All-Star break. Toronto is coming off of their first series victory in nearly a month, so both clubs will have some momentum on their side for Tuesday’s matchup.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, You Tube; LINE: Blue Jays -170; O/U: 9.5 Under -120.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (9-7, 3.67 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (3-14, 6.26)

Toronto will send struggling righ-thander Aaron Sanchez to the mound for the second game of the series. Sanchez has struggled with command all season. He has suffered from finger injuries over parts of the last two seasons. He’ll almost certainly set a new career high in walks allowed, and his current 6.26 ERA would represent a new high-water mark on his career. He did only allow just one walk in his previous outing. Maybe this is a sign Sanchez is finally regaining his old form.

Cleveland will counter with Trevor Bauer. He leads the Tribe with 9 wins on the season and has a 3.67 ERA. The righty will be gunning for his fourth win of July. Bauer looks to match his last outing against the Blue Jays tonight as the Indians are seeking a ninth victory in 10 games. Bauer walked six and struck out eight while holding the Blue Jays without a hit over seven scoreless innings in a 4-1 victory on April 4th. He is looking to reach double-digit wins for the fifth straight season.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Cleveland rookie outfielder Oscar Mercado had two hits, including a home run, in Monday's 7-3 victory. He is 13-for-31 with four creatures and 11 RBI's over his last eight games. Teammate Jose Ramirez recorded multiple hits for the seventh time in 16 games this month. Cleveland owns the top wild card spot in the American League as we speak and has taken all five meetings with Toronto this season. The lineup pounded out seven extra-base hits in Monday's win.

Bauer has strung three quality starts together and posted six in his last eight outings. He held Detroit to three runs over 6 2/3 innings in a win Thursday. The UCLA product has lost just once in his last eight starts. He boasts 170 strikeouts, 21 in the last two outings, over 144 2/3 innings this season. Freddy Galvis is 1-for-2 with a homer and three walks versus Bauer. Bauer is 3-2 with a 4.91 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) against Toronto.

The Blue Jays have lost six of nine and two straight after managing just five hits in the series opener. That included a two-run homer by Billy McKinney and a solo shot by Justin Smoak. Slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a pair of hits as well and is 7-for-15 with a homer and five RBI's over his last four games. Aaron Sanchez is also looking to end a 10-start losing streak.

Sanchez has suffered through 15 outings without a victory. He has gone 0-13 with a 7.98 ERA after beginning the season with a 3-1 record and 2.32 ERA in six starts. Sanchez has not completed six innings in any of his last seven starts. He yielded four runs over five frames in a loss at Boston on Wednesday. Francisco Lindor is 2-for-3 with a double against Sanchez, who limited Cleveland to two runs over six innings in a loss on April 4.

The Dart Throw: Indians 6, Blue Jays 4

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Indians vs Blue Jays Betting Odds & Trends

Cleveland Indians
Cleveland is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Cleveland is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
Cleveland is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing Toronto
Cleveland is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Cleveland's last 19 games when playing on the road against Toronto

Blu Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Toronto is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games at home
Toronto is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland
Toronto is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Toronto is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Toronto's last 19 games when playing at home against Cleveland

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