After the Mariners and Twins combined to cash the over for this article on Wednesday night, MLB handicapper Dalton Brown is back with a play he loves from north of the border.
1:07 p.m. ET: San Diego Padres at Toronto Blue Jays: Padres F5 moneyline (-116) at FanDuel
Thursday's matinee between the Padres and Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto will wrap up their three-game series, and the visiting Friars are hoping to complete a sweep. With Blake Snell taking the bump, I think San Diego has a great chance of doing so - or at least of taking a lead into the game's late innings.
Snell has been completely lights out over the last two months, allowing two or fewer runs in 10 straight starts and carrying a 22-inning scoreless streak into Thursday's matchup with the Blue Jays. Toronto is a solid offense in general, but I'm not sure how much that matters right now given the zone Snell is in. If there's an area the Blue Jays have struggled over the past month, it's against lefties - since June 15, Toronto ranks just 18th in MLB with a wRC+ of 94 vs. southpaws.
Chris Bassitt will pitch for Toronto, a pitcher who has not been at his best in recent starts. Bassitt pitched to a 4.59 ERA in June, thus far holds a 4.50 ERA in July, and has surrendered three or more earned runs in five of his last seven. San Diego's bats have come alive over the past few weeks, too - and especially against right-handed pitching. Since June 15, San Diego's wRC+ of 116 vs. righties is seventh-best across MLB.
San Diego's clear weakness, which was put on clear display in Philadelphia, is its bullpen - but with this first five innings bet, we can avoid that dumpster fire altogether in all likelihood. Here's hoping Blake Snell stays hot.