Pirates Blues Jays Betting – Pirates Will Be Tested By Blue Jays’ Team In Similar Situation

The Pittsburgh Pirates are an ideal team to compare to the Toronto Blue Jays from the National League. A clubhouse that has managed to stay in contention for a postseason position, but that can’t seem to close the MLB betting gap in a division that also features the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates know all too well the problems that Toronto has faced in a group that features the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay Rays. Those teams will get an even closer look at one another this week as Pittsburgh visits Toronto for a three-game set this week, as both look to stay relevant in deep divisions.

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Toronto Blue Jays

After waiting so long to get his first win of the season, Jo Jo Reyes hasn’t had a problem getting even more this past month as he has registered three over his past five starts. The 26-year old hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in each of those victories, and will need another solid outing in order to get the Blue Jays on track against Kevin Correia and the Pirates. Correia is coming off of one of his better starts of the season after allowing three earned runs in six innings of work in a 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles, but he has been very inconsistent this season and could be due for a betting loss.

MLB Betting Pick: Toronto Blue Jays

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Toronto Blue Jays

Wednesday, 7:07 PM ET

One of the brightest spots for Pittsburgh a year ago was the play of Paul Maholm, something that hasn’t transitioned over to 2011. The 29-year old left-hander has been better over the past month pitching three games in which he allowed just one earned run or less, and it is no surprise that the Pirates have won them all. Pittsburgh will need Maholm to continue to perform at that level in order to bounce back in the three-game set, with Brandon Morrow getting the call on the mound for the Blue Jays. Similarly, Toronto has been very high on Morrow but hasn’t gotten the sports betting bonus numbers that they expected since their starter returned from the DL.

MLB Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Toronto Blue Jays

Thursday, 7:07 PM ET

Jeff Karstens has been one of the better pitchers in baseball this season, and there is no reason to think that he will slow down with this series on the line. Karstens has allowed just five earned runs in his past five starts to get his ERA down to 2.66 with a 5-4 record on the year, while the Blue Jays will turn to former reliever Carlos Villanueva for another start. Villanueva is actually 5-1 on the season with his only loss a 2-1 decision against the Reds a couple of weeks ago, and if the Toronto offense gets going they could surprise a Karstens and the visiting Pirates to take the set.

MLB Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates