New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays Odds & Prediction: August 23rd 2010

New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays -120 odds
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The Yankees are coming off a very successful homestand where they went 5-2 and that is no surprise as they have been solid at home all season long. They are good on the road as well but not as good and their recent run is 4-5 over their last nine games. Also, they have a 7-11 run in their last 18 road games against teams with a .500 or better record and that goes all the way back to May 10th showing that New York has had a very favorable road schedule over this stretch by playing a lot of losing teams.

Toronto lost two of three in Boston over the weekend to put up a disappointing 4-5 roadtrip. Like New York, the Blue Jays are a much better team at home than on the road and they will look to regroup against a New York team they have had good success against this season, going 5-4 in the nine meetings including 2-1 at home in the lone series in Toronto.

I consider the Blue Jays to have a pretty significant edge in the starting pitching matchup tonight.

They send Brandon Morrow to the hill and he should have a big bounce back game here. He was coming off that one-hitter two starts back where he threw 137 pitchers and it showed in his last game despite having extra rest. His command was nowhere close to where it was and he went just four innings. The good news is that he tossed only 80 pitches so he should be even more rested now. He has faced the Yankees three times already and was hit hard twice but both of those were in New York. His lone home start against the Yankees resulted in a quality start.

The Yankees counter with Ivan Nova who was called up to make a spot start to give the regular starters an extra day of rest. He was with New York in May and had two appearances out of the bullpen before being sent back down. Nova was solid at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but he goes up against one of the best offenses in the league as the Blue Jays are second in the Majors in slugging and first in home runs.

Play on American League home favorites with a moneyline of-110 or higher that are hitting .265 or worse and starting a pitcher that strikes out five or more hitters per starts going up against a team with a bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better. This situation is 111-39 (74 percent) over the last five seasons.

Toronto is 22-8 this season as home favorites of -110 or higher. 3* Toronto Blue Jays