MLB Preview: Toronto Blue Jays Enter Season With Healthy Roster

That’s surprising. Up and down their lineup, the Jays can now go head-to-head against any team in baseball. And the health issue going into the new season is big.

That’s especially true if they can prove that the fifth starting pitcher spot has been solidified when games become real. Right now it’s lefty Yusei Kikuchi’s job to lose, after an impressive spring where he had a 1.00 ERA, 2-1 with 25 strikeouts over 18 innings in six pre-season starts, pitching with real confidence.

Okay, it’s the pre-season. But there’s no question Kikuchi can throw strikes – 124 in 100.2 innings last season. He made some tweaks to his delivery, quickened his pace, and we’ll see if he can carry it over to the regular season. Keep an eye on his first scheduled start – a week today against the Kansas City Royals.

The other unknown is starter Jose Berrios, who after a disastrous appearance for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic – five earned runs in just over an inning of work - seems to have figured out his fastball location. A lot is riding on Berrios – who struggled last season, going 12-7, with a 5.23 ERA. That’s not going to cut it for what they are paying him.

If those two guys are for real – with a bolstered bullpen (including the addition of RHP Erik Swanson in the Teoscar Hernandez trade with the Seattle Mariners), and big improvements defensively, adding Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier to left field and centre field, respectively, and the health of the roster so far (we’re looking at you George Springer), the Jays are a legitimate World Series threat.

The Jays open up tomorrow against the Cardinals in St. Louis, a 4:10 p.m. start. Alek Manoah starts for the Jays. NorthStar Bets has the Jays -113 and Cardinals -104.

BetMGM released some interesting data – the Houston Astros go from +700 to +600 in World Series odds, the New York Yankees from +900 to +800, and the San Diego Padres from +1400 to +900. The Los Angeles Dodgers go from +500 to +800, and the New York Mets from +1100 to +900.

The Jays? Opening odds at +900, now +1200 (4.3% of the tickets, 5.3%t of the handle).

The Yankees remain the favourite in the AL East, according to BetMGM at +115, with the Jays right behind them at +190 (they opened at +220). The Boston Red Sox, at +2000 to win the Al East, have the highest ticket percentage at 31.9%  and the highest handle, at 29.5%.

NorthStar has the Jays at +1300 to win the World Series, behind the Astros (+625), Dodgers (+700), Yankees (+700), Braves (+800), Mets (+900) and Padres (+900).

The Padres we get – coming into the season loaded with star power, with Fernando Tatis coming back next month from suspension, with a lot to prove to his teammates, first and foremost, followed by free agent signee Xander Bogaerts, then Juan Soto and Manny Machado.

The Yankees? Their big off-season move, signing starter Carlos Rodon, 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA last season with the San Francisco Giants, with 237 strikeouts, is on the injury list with a left forearm strain. Media reports had him pitching a bullpen session the other day, feeling good afterward, so if he can come back healthy, combined with Gerrit Cole, that’s a big impact in terms of Al East odds. So that’s one to follow if you are betting on the Jays. Can the Yankees start as fast as they did last season – 16-6, .727 through May 2.

We’ll say it again – Nate Pearson, starting the season in Triple AAA with Buffalo, in the bullpen, with his 100-mph heat, is someone to keep an eye on for the Blue Jays. He’ll likely be the first pitching call-up as the season progresses.

The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Pearson, 26, is a physical beast complement to the 6-foot-6, 285-pound Manoah, 25, who finished third in AL Cy Young voting last year. Pearson – knock on wood – finally seems healthy after years of injuries, after initially looked upon as one of baseball’s great young prospects.

BetMGM also released some win total projections – they have the Jays at 91.5, after opening at 93.5. The Yankees? 94.5, after opening at 95.5. The biggest line movement from open to current is the Red Sox – 76.5 to 78.5.

Let the games begin.