2 Parlays August 27: Chalky Blue Jays Belong in Your Parlays
Cleveland Guardians vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 1:37 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre in Toronto & Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 2:10 p.m. ET at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago
Who Starts for Toronto?
Toronto has a massive pitching advantage with its starter today, Yusei Kikuchi.
Kikuchi is coming off a start -- he allowed three earned runs in Baltimore -- in which he was unfortunate to allow as many runs as he did.
In this start, he did a tremendous job of minimizing hard contact but was victimized by a high BABIP (batting average of balls in play).
His 1.34 FIP (like ERA but factors out fielding) in that start reflects how well he actually performed.
This FIP shows that his form is still strong because, before playing Baltimore, he had allowed one run or fewer in six straight starts.
He had even thrived against the Dodgers.
This deeper dive into his last start shows that he is no different from the pitcher whom the Dodgers could not hit.
Cleveland's Lineup
But today's version of Kikuchi does not even need to be anywhere near the version of himself that held the Dodgers to one run in six innings in their ballpark.
This is because Cleveland poses a considerably softer test.
Kikuchi is a lefty who throws a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup.
Cleveland ranks 30th with a .349 slugging rate against his pitches from lefties.
Who Starts for Cleveland?
Noah Syndergaard starts for the Guardians today.
Syndergaard enters today's game having allowed eight earned runs in his last two starts, which is consistent with his season-long struggles.
He needs a lot of run support, but he won't get it with Toronto trotting out a lefty.
Cleveland is already 1-5 in his starts against a team starting a left-handed pitcher.
Who Starts for Oakland?
Paul Blackburn starts for the A's today.
Blackburn enters today's game in good form: he's allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts.
White Sox Lineup
Blackburn throws a good variety of pitches: sinker, cutter, slider, fastball, curveball, and changeup.
He matches up well against a White Sox lineup that ranks 27th with a .391 slugging rate against his pitches from righties.
Who Starts for the White Sox?
Chicago starts Mike Clevinger today.
Clevinger is ready to pounce on baseball's last-ranked lineup.
He reliably thrives at home against weak competition, as evident in his four home starts against the Yankees, Tigers, and Guardians (x2), who combined for a total of three earned runs against him.
Best Bet: Parlay Blue Jays ML at -195 & A's-White Sox under 9 at -115 at +183 odds with BetOnline
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 2:10 p.m. ET at Target Field in Minneapolis & Cincinnati Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 4:10 p.m. ET at Chase Field in Phoenix
Who Starts for Texas?
Jordan Montgomery starts for the Rangers.
Montgomery enters today's contest in strong form: he's allowed a combined total of five earned runs in his last four starts.
Most recently, he allowed one run in six innings against the Angels before throwing eight shutout innings in Arizona.
His last two starts are especially impressive because he was already doing a good job of limiting walks and starting ahead of the count.
But now he is also avoiding home runs and inducing batters to chase his pitches outside of the strike zone.
Today, his outlook remains strong because he faces a comparably softer test, one that struggles more against lefties than the lineups that he's lately victimized.
Who Starts for the Twins?
Minnesota starts Bailey Ober today.
Ober is coming off a start in which he was fortunate to allow as few runs as he did.
In that start -- he allowed two runs to Milwaukee -- he benefited from a very low BABIP (batting average of balls in play).
His 6.47 FIP in that start reflects how poorly he actually performed.
He enters today's game having yielded an FIP of over 5.20 in two straight starts.
Rangers' Lineup
Ober's outlook today is negative because he faces a tough test.
As one who throws a fastball, changeup, slider, and curveball, he matches up poorly against the Rangers.
They rank fourth with a .454 slugging rate against his pitches from righties.
Who Starts for the Reds?
Graham Ashcraft starts for Cincinnati today.
Ashcraft merits bettors' confidence today because he is consistently successful, which makes him reliable.
He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in ten straight starts.
But he allowed three earned runs only three times, and in every such start he lasted at least seven innings.
His current form is most impressive because he's sustained it against tough competition, shutting out the likes of the Dodgers.
Who Starts for the Diamondbacks?
Arizona starts Slade Cecconi today.
Cecconi is coming off a fortunate performance in which he failed to induce any soft contact but was bailed out by a low BABIP.
His 5.07 FIP (like ERA but factors out fielding) in that start shows how poorly he actually performed.
Reds' Lineup
Except against a stud in Merrill Kelly, the Reds have been hitting well lately.
Since August 23, they're slugging .429 against Cecconi's pitches from righties.
Best Bet: Parlay Rangers ML at -108 & Reds ML at +110 at +304 odds with BetOnline
Cleveland Guardians vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 1:37 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre in Toronto & Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 2:10 p.m. ET at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago
- Yusei Kikuchi and Paul Blackburn enjoy strong form
- Noah Syndergaard won't get the run support he needs
- Mike Clevinger is reliable at home against weak competition
Who Starts for Toronto?
Toronto has a massive pitching advantage with its starter today, Yusei Kikuchi.
Kikuchi is coming off a start -- he allowed three earned runs in Baltimore -- in which he was unfortunate to allow as many runs as he did.
In this start, he did a tremendous job of minimizing hard contact but was victimized by a high BABIP (batting average of balls in play).
His 1.34 FIP (like ERA but factors out fielding) in that start reflects how well he actually performed.
This FIP shows that his form is still strong because, before playing Baltimore, he had allowed one run or fewer in six straight starts.
He had even thrived against the Dodgers.
This deeper dive into his last start shows that he is no different from the pitcher whom the Dodgers could not hit.
Cleveland's Lineup
But today's version of Kikuchi does not even need to be anywhere near the version of himself that held the Dodgers to one run in six innings in their ballpark.
This is because Cleveland poses a considerably softer test.
Kikuchi is a lefty who throws a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup.
Cleveland ranks 30th with a .349 slugging rate against his pitches from lefties.
Who Starts for Cleveland?
Noah Syndergaard starts for the Guardians today.
Syndergaard enters today's game having allowed eight earned runs in his last two starts, which is consistent with his season-long struggles.
He needs a lot of run support, but he won't get it with Toronto trotting out a lefty.
Cleveland is already 1-5 in his starts against a team starting a left-handed pitcher.
Who Starts for Oakland?
Paul Blackburn starts for the A's today.
Blackburn enters today's game in good form: he's allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts.
White Sox Lineup
Blackburn throws a good variety of pitches: sinker, cutter, slider, fastball, curveball, and changeup.
He matches up well against a White Sox lineup that ranks 27th with a .391 slugging rate against his pitches from righties.
Who Starts for the White Sox?
Chicago starts Mike Clevinger today.
Clevinger is ready to pounce on baseball's last-ranked lineup.
He reliably thrives at home against weak competition, as evident in his four home starts against the Yankees, Tigers, and Guardians (x2), who combined for a total of three earned runs against him.
Best Bet: Parlay Blue Jays ML at -195 & A's-White Sox under 9 at -115 at +183 odds with BetOnline
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 2:10 p.m. ET at Target Field in Minneapolis & Cincinnati Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 4:10 p.m. ET at Chase Field in Phoenix
- Jordan Montgomery and Graham Ashcraft are consistently successful
- Texas matches up well against Bailey Ober
- The Reds are hitting well
Who Starts for Texas?
Jordan Montgomery starts for the Rangers.
Montgomery enters today's contest in strong form: he's allowed a combined total of five earned runs in his last four starts.
Most recently, he allowed one run in six innings against the Angels before throwing eight shutout innings in Arizona.
His last two starts are especially impressive because he was already doing a good job of limiting walks and starting ahead of the count.
But now he is also avoiding home runs and inducing batters to chase his pitches outside of the strike zone.
Today, his outlook remains strong because he faces a comparably softer test, one that struggles more against lefties than the lineups that he's lately victimized.
Who Starts for the Twins?
Minnesota starts Bailey Ober today.
Ober is coming off a start in which he was fortunate to allow as few runs as he did.
In that start -- he allowed two runs to Milwaukee -- he benefited from a very low BABIP (batting average of balls in play).
His 6.47 FIP in that start reflects how poorly he actually performed.
He enters today's game having yielded an FIP of over 5.20 in two straight starts.
Rangers' Lineup
Ober's outlook today is negative because he faces a tough test.
As one who throws a fastball, changeup, slider, and curveball, he matches up poorly against the Rangers.
They rank fourth with a .454 slugging rate against his pitches from righties.
Who Starts for the Reds?
Graham Ashcraft starts for Cincinnati today.
Ashcraft merits bettors' confidence today because he is consistently successful, which makes him reliable.
He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in ten straight starts.
But he allowed three earned runs only three times, and in every such start he lasted at least seven innings.
His current form is most impressive because he's sustained it against tough competition, shutting out the likes of the Dodgers.
Who Starts for the Diamondbacks?
Arizona starts Slade Cecconi today.
Cecconi is coming off a fortunate performance in which he failed to induce any soft contact but was bailed out by a low BABIP.
His 5.07 FIP (like ERA but factors out fielding) in that start shows how poorly he actually performed.
Reds' Lineup
Except against a stud in Merrill Kelly, the Reds have been hitting well lately.
Since August 23, they're slugging .429 against Cecconi's pitches from righties.
Best Bet: Parlay Rangers ML at -108 & Reds ML at +110 at +304 odds with BetOnline
