World Series Betting: Assessing The Blue Jays’ Chances
It’s been almost 30 years since the Toronto Blue Jays last won the World Series. Joe Carter touched ‘em all on October 23, 1993, making it back-to-back championships for the Jays; it seemed like this dynasty would go on forever.
There would be no dynasty. The 1994 postseason was cancelled because of a strike, and the Blue Jays drifted apart from there, banished from the playoffs until 2015. Then, for a brief period, the Jays were back in business, with Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson launching big bombs – but all for naught, as the Jays failed twice to win the pennant before dissolving again.
This team is different, though. They’ve just clinched an American League Wild Card berth, and with the postseason in sight, Blue Jays World Series betting is hot and heavy at Bodog Sportsbook. Here’s a closer look at this year’s club, and where the Jays stand on Bodog’s MLB odds board as October approaches.
Season So Far
It’s remarkable how well the Blue Jays have performed this year given their struggles. After a very active offseason that saw the arrival of starting pitchers Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi, along with third baseman Matt Chapman, the Jays (+1100) were fourth on Bodog’s World Series odds list as training camp was underway.
Unfortunately, the Jays lost former ace Hyun-Jin Ryu to Tommy John surgery after just six starts, putting additional pressure on a rotation that saw reigning AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray sign with the Seattle Mariners in free agency. Toss in several injured relievers, and Toronto’s pitching was weak enough to keep the team hovering just above .500 deep into May.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride since then, but there have been more ups than downs. Now, with that wildcard spot confirmed, how far can the Blue Jays go in Bodog’s World Series betting?
Memorable Moments
The Blue Jays didn’t wait long to give their fans something to cheer about. In their very first game on April 8, the Jays spotted the Texas Rangers seven runs before storming back to win 10-8, marking the biggest Opening Day comeback in the majors in 72 years. It was even more special because it was the first sell-out at Rogers Centre since the coronavirus pandemic began.
With the Jays having trouble finding their groove, July 13 would prove to be a big turning point in their season. Manager Charlie Montoyo was dismissed and replaced by bench coach John Schneider, a former catcher in Toronto’s farm system. Schneider appears to have lit a fire under his players; they’re 41-25 since the change was made.
Toronto fans had another big day on July 19 when six different Jays played in the MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Alek Manoah was one of those players, recording three strikeouts in his one inning of work to help the American League win 3-2. That’s nine straight wins for the junior circuit.
Standout Performers
Manoah (2.31 ERA) has been Toronto’s MVP this year. Anytime they’re in a slump, Manoah seems to pull them out with his incredible pitching and infectious personality. In reality, the Jays are only 17-13 with Manoah on the mound, but each of his last six games was a quality start, giving Toronto’s overworked bullpen a much-needed boost.
Gausman (3.30 ERA) turned out to be a very important addition to the staff. With Opening Day starter Jose Berrios (5.27 ERA) not performing up to standard, and Kikuchi (5.48 ERA) falling out of the rotation, Manoah, Gausman and Ross Stripling (3.16 ERA) have stepped up and saved Toronto’s bacon. They’ll be even more important to the Jays’ postseason success once the rotations are shortened.
Hitting-wise, 1B Vladimir Guerrero (.819 OPS) isn’t the same league MVP candidate he was in 2021, but Guerrero is still an All-Star; he was joined this year by catcher Alejandro Kirk (.805 OPS), CF George Springer (.802 OPS) and 2B Santiago Espinal (.692 OPS), although Espinal has cooled off somewhat and is currently on the 10-day IL with a strained left oblique.
Finally, let’s not forget about that bullpen, where Jordan Romano (2.20 ERA) rounds out this year’s list of All-Stars. Romano is a native of Markham, Ontario, so he gets some extra love from Jays fans – and plenty of support from set-up men like Adam Cimber (2.96 ERA) and Tim Mayza (2.91 ERA).
World Seris Betting: Odds for Glory
With all of these star players at every position on the field, the Blue Jays are in very good shape indeed to bring that World Series trophy north of the border. They’re the No. 7 favourites at Bodog Sportsbook in the World Series betting as we go to press:
Los Angeles Dodgers +300
Houston Astros +350
New York Yankees +500
New York Mets +500
Atlanta Braves +600
St. Louis Cardinals +1400
Toronto Blue Jays +1500
That’s some stiff competition for the Jays to leapfrog – and all six of these teams have been playing quite well of late. But the Yankees have definitely come back down to earth during the second half of the season, so maybe Toronto’s path to championship glory isn’t so daunting after all. You can also bet the Jays at +550 to win the pennant if you prefer.
Bet with Crypto
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You can find out even more about the benefits of crypto betting by checking out our FAQ and Help guides, as well as the other informative articles here at Bodog. In the meantime, let’s cheer on the Blue Jays in the World Series betting as they march towards what could be their biggest postseason in three decades.