Game: Toronto Blue Jays @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 10:10 p.m.
Odds: Blue Jays +105, Dodgers -115
Total: 9.5
When Mookie Betts goes up against Vladimir Guerrero Jr., he can try and extract some revenge. In the first game of a three-game series and nine-game homestand, Betts will lead the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. It will be the Dodgers’ first home game since July 8.
The wait for a game in Los Angeles has been so long that since they last played at Dodger Stadium, Guerrero defeated Betts in the opening round of the Home Run Derby on July 10 in Seattle. Guerrero eventually won the home run championship and the first-place prize of $1 million.
Betts has long since moved past his Derby setback, in which Guerrero defeated him 26-11 in the opening round. The following day, he participated in the All-Star Game before leading the Dodgers to three straight series wins over the Mets, Orioles, and most recently, the Rangers.
The Dodgers lost to Texas 8-4 on Sunday, but Max Muncy hit a grand slam in the loss, and Los Angeles scored 31 runs in the series, taking the first game 16-3. The Dodgers did well on the road trip going 6-3 since the All-Star break.
On Monday, the Dodgers will start right-handed rookie Michael Grove (2-2, 6.40 ERA). For the first time in his young career, Grove, who has never faced the Blue Jays, is coming off back-to-back victories after allowing just one run over five innings on Tuesday at Baltimore. Grove, who has struggled against left-handed hitters, made some progress against the Orioles by using a cut fastball to get out of jams.
Right-hander Jose Berrios (8-7, 3.39) of the Blue Jays will counter with a 1.47 ERA over his last three starts but no wins to show for it. Against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday, he allowed two runs over six innings while tying a season-high with nine strikeouts. The Dodgers and Berrios have met once. He made a start in 2017 for the Minnesota Twins, taking the loss after allowing four runs in four innings.
With a 4-3 victory over Seattle on Sunday, Toronto just avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Mariners. Since the Home Run Derby, Guerrero has kept up his power display with four home runs in nine games, including homers in back-to-back games. The last two days have seen home runs from Brandon Belt as well. So far this season, five of the six games between the Mariners and Blue Jays have been decided by a single run.
The Blue Jays have a chance to snap a five-game losing streak to National League teams with a win over the Dodgers. Los Angeles has beaten Toronto in nine of the previous ten matchups between the teams. The teams’ most recent meeting took place in Los Angeles in 2019. The Dodgers won a three-game sweep, including one-run games in the final two games.
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