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Pictured: Reese Olson Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images

MLB best bets: Tigers vs. Blue Jays odds, pick, predictions for Sat. 7/20

Originally posted on Action Network | By Sean Paul | Last updated Jul 20, 2024 6:58 AM ET

Although the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers will likely watch the playoffs from home, this series could decide which team (or both) chooses to sell at the trade deadline. The Tigers narrowly took Friday night's contest and Saturday's game should also be close thanks to a strong pitching matchup.

Here’s an in-depth betting guide for this game in Toronto, where the Blue Jays sit as -130 moneyline favorites with an over/under of 7.5.

Tigers vs. Blue Jays Odds

Saturday, July 20, 3:07 p.m. ET, MLB.TV

Tigers Odds
Moneyline	Total	Run Line
+114	8 -110/-110	+1.5 -182

Blue Jays Odds
Moneyline	Total	Run Line
-137	8 -110/-110	-1.5 +152

Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here.

Check out Yardbarker's betting hub for odds, picks, predictions and analysis — and start winning TODAY!

Detroit Tigers

On the mound for the Tigers is Reese Olson, who is developing into what the Tigers dreamt former top draft pick Casey Mize would be. Olson is a right-hander with a plethora of pitchers who won’t blow anyone away with velocity, but knows how to generate outs on the ground and via the strikeout. Olson enters the second half with a 3.30 ERA and a 3.06 FIP. He's also in the 87th percentile in chase rate and the 86th percentile in ground-ball rate.

I can’t find many nice things to say about the Tigers' offense — other than that Riley Greene is a budding superstar. Otherwise, Detroit struggles against southpaws and ranks 24th in baseball with a 91 wRC+ against lefties.

The Tigers' best hitter is Greene, but he isn’t very good against lefties. He bats just .207 versus southpaws and just four of his 17 homers have come against them. It’s the same deal for Colt Keith, who’s been the Tigers' most surprising hitter in July.

Toronto putting in a southpaw neutralizes two of the Tigers' best hitters, which limits the potency of an already mediocre offense.

Toronto Blue Jays

Yusei Kikuchi has developed a reputation for streaky pitching, and this recent run is no exception. Over his past six outings, the veteran southpaw has allowed four or more runs four times and gone fewer than five innings three times, but also struck out a career-best 13 versus the Giants. It’s so tough to gauge which version of Kikuchi will emerge each outing.

The Blue Jays have treated hitting like a chore all year and have a 97 wRC+, which ranks 19th in MLB. It’s been even worse lately as Toronto ranks 22nd since July 1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr and Justin Turner have struggled lately, but Spencer Horwitz has provided a steady presence in the lead-off spot, posting a robust 159 wRC+ in 26 games.

Tigers vs. Blue Jays

Betting Pick & Prediction

As the total suggests, the books expect a low scoring affair in Toronto. I don’t blame them, but I don’t think the over/under is low enough and could see this one finishing with just four or five runs. If each starter settles in early, scoring could be difficult for both teams.

The first game of this series should’ve gone under, but the Tigers' bullpen imploded late. I think we’ll see a pitchers' duel Saturday between two solid starters and a pair of struggling offenses.