Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies Predictions, Picks and MLB Preview – June 15, 2016

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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies Preview

Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

When: Wednesday, June 15, 7:05 PM ET

Line: Toronto Blue Jays (-155) at Philadelphia Phillies (+140); total: 8.5 – view all MLB lines

TV Broadcast: SNET, TVA Sports

Betting on the Toronto Blue Jays (-155)

The Toronto Blue Jays returned to winning ways Tuesday with a resounding 11-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Josh Donaldson hit a towering grand slam in the third inning to lift the Blue Jays to their fourth win in their last five games. The Blue Jays will look to carry the momentum of that huge victory when they take on Philadelphia again, this time at Citizens Bank Park tonight.

Pitching for the Blue Jays in the series opener is right-hander Marco Estrada (4-2, 2.57 ERA). He pitched six innings and allowed three runs in a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The Jays won that game, 4-3. Estrada has been superb of late, allowing just five hits or fewer in each of his last nine starts. He is unbeaten in his last eight starts and has now won three straight decisions. Estrada has a 6.15 ERA in 10 games against the Phillies.

That being said, the Blue Jays will also need to pull their weight on the offensive end if they are to beat Philadelphia in the series opener. The Toronto offense will rely on the red-hot Donaldson to carry them through tonight. He went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, two doubles, three runs, five RBI and a walk Tuesday against Philadelphia. Donaldson is 11-of-27 over his last seven games with two homers and 12 RBIs. He is hitless though in six career at-bats against Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson.

The Blue Jays are 6-4 in their last 10 road games. They are pegged at +900 to win the American League pennant.

Betting on the Philadelphia Phillies (+140)

Philadelphia’s losing woes show no sign of abating as the Phillies suffered a humiliating defeat to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. It was another disappointing setback for the Phillies who have now lost 14 of their last 18 games. With the loss, Philadelphia dropped to 30-35 in the NL East standings.

The Phillies will look to return to the win column when they face the Blue Jays in the opening game of their two-game set tonight. Starting for Philadelphia in this interleague matchup is right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 4.34 ERA). He struggled mightily against the Washington Nationals on Friday, surrendering seven runs on nine hits, three of them via the long ball. The loss snapped Hellickson’s streak of six straight starts of three runs or fewer. The 29-year-old has a 3.45 ERA in 15 career starts against Toronto.

With Hellickson still a big question mark at this point, the onus is on the Philadelphia hitters to provide some much-needed runs tonight. Expected to lead the Phillies’ offense in this game against the Blue Jays is Ryan Howard. He is 4-of-11 (.364) lifetime against Toronto starter Marco Estrada with a homer, four RBIs and three walks.

The Phillies are 3-7 in their last 10 home games. They are priced at +12,500 to win the World Series this year.

Writer’s Prediction

Toronto (-155) wins, 5-1.