Slumping Blue Jays set as underdogs vs. red-hot Orioles

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marco Estrada throws to the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

The Toronto Blue Jays will be searching for an end to a four-game losing streak when they open a seven-game road trip in Baltimore on Thursday as +120 underdogs on the MLB odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Toronto leaves town after losing 7-1 to AL East-leading Boston as a +126 underdog on Thursday, dropping the club deeper into the division basement and 15 games back of the Red Sox going into Thursday night’s Blue Jays vs. Orioles betting matchup at Camden Yards.

The wheels have come off for the Blue Jays since a 10-5 run moved them to within three games of the second AL wild-card spot just two weeks ago. Toronto has now lost 10 of its past 12 games, and has struggled to contain opposing batters, surrendering six or more runs in nine of those contests.

The Blue Jays have also produced uneven offence during that stretch, tallying just 3.58 runs per game and scoring more than two runs just twice in their past seven outings. That, however, has produced some solid results for those taking the UNDER in totals betting, which is 5-2 over the club’s past seven games according to the OddsShark MLB Database.

Marco Estrada makes his fourth start of the season against the Orioles on Thursday. The right-hander is 1-0 during that stretch while surrendering just three runs in 20.2 innings of work. Estrada has surrendered 12 total earned runs over his past three starts, but also gave up just five hits in six innings last time out, picking up the decision in the club’s 10-9 win over Minnesota as -120 chalk on Aug. 26.

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Estrada will need to remain hot against an Orioles squad that has won seven straight and enters Thursday’s contest as -130 home chalk. Baltimore completed a three-game sweep with an 8-7 win over Seattle on Wednesday as a -133 favourite.

The Orioles have also blanked opponents in two of their past five games, including a 7-0 victory in Boston as +122 underdogs last weekend, but have given up six or more runs in four of their past eight outings.

However, the Orioles have enjoyed regular success against Toronto, posting wins in 11 of their past 15 meetings, and have taken four of five from the Blue Jays at Camden Yards this season. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson looks to build on a strong outing last week in Boston, but is winless in his past three starts against the Blue Jays.

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