Baltimore Orioles vs. Toronto Blue Jays April 24 Free Pick

By MLB

Tuesday’s Red Sox play was a rough one – and probably the worst of the young season. But there was a lot to be learned watching that ball game and, more importantly, I think we have an extremely strong play coming back today. Time to get back to the winning ways!

Free Pick

It’s still very early but, after being picked to finish last in the AL East by most (computers included), Toronto is playing well behind the best team ERA in the East. Mark Buehrle has obviously dragged down that team mark all by his lonesome. The rest of Toronto’s staff has impressed, though. That includes young Drew Hutchison. Hutchison takes the ball Thursday as the Blue Jays try to take two of three. lawire

Some might remember Hutchison as a highly touted prospect in the Jays’ system a couple years ago. He made 11 starts in his rookie season in 2012 before going on the shelf all of last season with Tommy John. Now back and healthy, he’s throwing the ball like he was pre-surgery and is getting results. In his first four starts, Hutchison has surrendered just two runs in 16.2 innings spread out over  his three best starts – which includes one against Baltimore. He did get knocked around a little bit at home against the Yankees, but I don’t think we’ll need a particularly phenomenal game from Hutchison to get a “W.”

I love Toronto until Brett Lawrie and Melky Cabrera cool off. Two of the Jays’ most volatile hitters are seeing the ball extremely well, which means Toronto is about as dangerous as any with the rest of its talented bats in the lineup and swinging well. Confidence has a special way of affecting the game of baseball. And right now, Toronto has some mighty confidence individual. The Blue Jays will welcome the AL East punching bag, Bud Norris to town and likely bid him farewell pretty quickly. For a Baltimore team that has used its bullpen an awful lot in the last couple games, that doesn’t combine for a very positive outlook on this one. Toronto defends the Rogers Centre turf and gets the win here.

Free Pick: Toronto -125

2014 YTD: 8-2 +5.90


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