The Toronto Blue Jays will face an uphill battle to return to post-season contention when they resume play following this week’s MLB all-star break. The Blue Jays enter the break sitting 4.5 games off the pace in the AL wild card race, and remain stalled as a +2200 wager on the 2021 World Series odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Blue Jays have once again been forced to play their home games south of the border due to continued restrictions resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With their home schedule to date getting split between TD Ballpark in Dunedin and Sahlen Field in Buffalo, the club has stumbled to a middling 19-20 home record. In addition, injuries emerged as a major concern during the first half, with key players like outfielder George Springer, infielder Cavan Biggio, and catcher Danny Jansen all missing considerable time.
Good news, though, could be awaiting the Blue Jays when the second half of the season gets underway. Toronto’s efforts to return to Rogers Centre could soon produce results, with reports indicating that July 30 is the target date for the team to return to its home turf for the first time in almost two years. That timing would be ideal for the Blue Jays, who are scheduled to play 37 of their final 62 games at home. The team has also enjoyed steady progress on the injury front, with Springer, Biggio, and Jansen all in action during this past weekend’s series in Tampa Bay.
However, the Blue Jays still have work to do to close the eight-game gap separating them from the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox, which leaves them lagging as a distant +1100 wager at online sports betting sites to win the division for the first time since 2015.
Meanwhile, it remains a close two-way race at the top of the World Series odds, with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers leading the way as +350 favourites, just ahead of the Houston Astros at +500.
The Dodgers compiled the best record in baseball last season ahead of their march to their first World Series victory since 1988. However, Los Angeles enters the break looking up at the surprising San Francisco Giants, who lead the majors with a 57-32 record that has lifted them to a +1000 wager on the odds to win the World Series. Conversely, the Astros have emerged as the highest scoring team in baseball during their drive to the top of the AL standings.
Further down the World Series odds, the Chicago White Sox are knotted with the San Diego Padres at +700, with the New York Mets at +900, just ahead of Boston at +1000, while the Rays join the Milwaukee Brewers at +1200. The Oakland Athletics sit at +1800, while the New York Yankees are tied with the Blue Jays at +2200 on the futures board.
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