Published Jun 1, 9:03pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 1, 9:03pm ET
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Updated Jun 1, 9:04pm ET
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| Atlanta Braves | -125 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +113 |
The defending AL champion Blue Jays had won 4 straight to get to .500 at 29-29 before losing two straight to the Orioles. They enter Atlanta at 29-31. Kevin Gausman takes the hill.
Since he signed with the Blue Jays in 2022, he has been eerily consistent every year. Again in 2026, he's pitched well with a 1.7 bWAR and a 3.13 ERA. In 12 starts, he's tossed 69 innings, allowed 63 hits and 24 earned runs, walking 12 and striking out 66.
After a terrible start against the Rays on May 11 in which he surrendered 6 earned runs and 10 hits in 4.2 innings, he's been excellent, allowing 2 earned runs in 17.2 innings.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is still having a power outage with only 3 homers in 275 plate appearances. Ernie Clement is batting .300 with a .771 OPS and leads the AL in hits and MLB in doubles. Kazuma Okamoto is batting .214, but has 12 homers. George Springer is batting .212.
Against Braves starter Bryce Elder, Jesus Sanchez is 6 for 21 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, and a home run. Myles Straw is 2 for 3 with a double. Guerrero is 1 for 2 with a double. Andres Gimenez is 1 for 5 with a single.
Bryce Elder's ERA was below 2.00 before his last start. But a beating at the hands of the Red Sox raised it to 2.50. In that start, he surrendered 5 earned runs and 9 hits in 3.1 innings. Overall, he's tossed 72 innings, allowed 56 hits and 20 earned runs, walking 22 and striking out 61.
He's back to the pitcher he was in 2023 when he made the All-Star team.
The Braves have the most wins in the majors.
Matt Olson has 16 homers and leads the NL in doubles. Ronald Acuña Jr. is starting to hit with an .821 OPS and a 1.4 bWAR. Dominic Smith continues his amazing comeback season with a .325 average and an .852 OPS. Michael Harris has 13 homers and an .868 OPS.
For the Braves against Gausman, Olson is 4 for 16 with 2 homers. Austin Riley is 4 for 6 with a home run. Mike Yastrzemski is 2 for 6 with a home run. Mauricio Dubon is 3 for 9 with a home run. Smith is 0 for 19 with 3 K's.
This is an even pitching matchup. Gausman has reached the point where it's reasonable to expect at least 5 or 6 solid innings from him. Elder was excellent and a Cy Young Award contender before his last start against Boston.
Toronto is hitting with limited power and Atlanta is putting up plenty of runs.
Expect Gausman to hold the Braves down and for the Blue Jays to get to Elder to bring Toronto the win in the first game of their 3-game set on the road.
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Toronto Blue Jays +113
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