The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to record opening-day victories in consecutive years for the first time since 2016 when they open their schedule against the New York Yankees on Thursday as +155 underdogs on the MLB odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Toronto travels north after going 16-9 in Grapefruit League action, but rides a five-game road losing streak against New York into Thursday afternoon's matchup at Yankee Stadium.
The Blue Jays return to action looking to build on a solid 2020 campaign, which they closed out with a 32-28 record that earned them their first trip to the post-season since 2016. Team management took major steps during the off-season to bolster the Blue Jays' promising lineup including the signings of outfielder George Springer and infielder Marcus Semien. The club, though, will be missing Springer on Thursday afternoon as he deals with an oblique injury.
The veteran additions to Toronto's youthful corps have paid dividends for the team on the MLB betting futures. The Blue Jays have emerged as a strong -130 wager to return to the post-season in 2021, and trail only the Yankees at +325 on the AL East division odds. However, the team has struggled badly when visiting the Bronx in April, going 5-11 in 16 dates since 2007, according to the OddsShark MLB Database.
Hyun Jin Ryu is expected to get the call for the Blue Jays in Thursday's season opener. The ace of the pitching staff was a model of consistency in his first season with the club in 2020, compiling a 5-2 record with a 2.69 ERA. Ryu did have mixed results in a pair of starts versus the Yankees last season, but he turned in a masterful shutout performance over seven innings of work in a 4-1 victory against them on September 24.
Listed as -180 favourites at sports betting sites for Thursday's contest, the Yankees return to action looking to rebound from their disappointing performance in 2020. Set among the favourites on both the divisional futures and the World Series odds entering last season, the Yankees managed to finish just one game up on Toronto in second place in the AL East, and once again made a speedy exit from post-season action.
That has not dampened the Yankees' odds entering the new campaign. New York leads the way as -165 chalk to win the AL East division title, and sits as a +550 wager to end a decade-long World Series drought.
