Baseball Betting Fave San Diego Welcomes Toronto on Monday Night

Fresh off of a 2 and 1 three game series victory over the Seattle Mariners, the San Diego Padres, welcome the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night in the first of yet another 3-game interleague series.  After the Jays, the Padres take on Baltimore and Tampa Bay in two more 3-game series.

But, it’s all about Toronto on Monday night.  According to the MLB sportsbook odds makers, the Blue Jays aren’t that big of an underdog even though San Diego sends Jon Garland to the mound.  Garland has been an exceptional pitcher for the #1 ranked ERA pitching staff in Major League Baseball.  The Padres staff allows 3 runs per game.  Their team WHIP is 1.19.

Garland is 6 and 4 with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.  He’s the baseball bet favorite, but he faces a tough task in stopping the Blue Jays tonight.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. San Diego Padres

Where:  Petco Park, San Diego, CA

When:  June 14th, 2010 at 10:05 pm EST

TV:  Toronto – SNET
         San Diego – Channel 4 San Diego

Radio:  Toronto – FAN 590
             San Diego – XPRS 1090, XEPE 1700, XEMO 860

MLB Betting Odds

Toronto Blue Jays
Shaun Marcum – R                             Ev

San Diego Padres
Jon Garland – R                                  -120

There are some positive and negative trends for both teams in this game.

The Toronto Blue Jays are 1 and 6 in their last 7 games overall.

The Toronto Blue Jays are 6 and 1 in Shaun Marcum’s last 7 starts on grass.
The San Diego Padres are 8 and 0 in their last 8 games at home versus a team with a winning road record.

The San Diego Padres are 1 and 4 in their last 5 games versus a right-handed starter.

Garland started out the season strong going 6 and 0 with a 1.83 ERA after losing his first 2 games.  Since then, he’s been less than stellar going 0 and 2 in his last 2 games while giving up 18 hits and 9 runs in 13 innings pitched.  He might bounce back in this game, however, because he’s gone 11 and 2 against the Toronto Blue Jays in 16 career lifetime starts.

Not only that but Garland is 3 and 0 with a 1.15 ERA at home.  With those stats on his side, I’m surprised that Garland is only a -120 favorite to beat Marcum and the Blue Jays tonight.

Shaun Marcum, like Garland, started out the season well going 5 and 0 with a 1.85 ERA after going 0 and 1 in his first 5 starts.  He hasn’t had a great June, though, going 0 and 2 with an 8.03 ERA.

In a game where both pitchers could throw well, the nod goes to the guy with the terrific home ERA and record.  That would be Jon Garland.  The Padres should be comfortable and Garland should have a great outing while Marcum might struggle some given how badly he’s pitched recently.

My money will be on Garland and the Padres tonight to beat the Toronto Blue Jays.

MLB Sportsbook Pick:  San Diego Padres -120