Orioles vs. Blue Jays prediction and odds for Monday, July 31 (Ryu's Return)

The Toronto Blue Jays need some more pitching, so they added Jordan Hicks to their bullpen, but they are also adding Hyun Jin Ryu to their rotation. Not via trade, but just by Ryu finally getting healthy and rejoining the team off the 60-day IL. 

It’s been a while for Ryu and he will be opposed by a pitcher who was barely in the MLB the last time he took the mound. Kyle Bradish has been great in his second year and has a 3.29 ERA in 19 starts for the first place Orioles. 

Let’s get into the odds for Game 2 of this AL East rivalry in Toronto. 

Orioles vs. Blue Jays odds, run line and total

Orioles vs. Blue Jays prediction and pick

It’s really tough to know what to expect from Ryu after such a long layoff. He hasn’t pitched since June 1, 2022 and he posted a 5.67 ERA in his six starts last year.

However, the year prior he was solid and made 31 starts and had an ERA of 4.37. He’ll have his work cut out for him against the top team in the division and a team that hits lefties pretty well. 

The O’s are 12th in OPS against lefties this season with a .754 OPS and in July that jumped to .795 in 204 plate appearances against left-handers last month. Ryan Mountcastle has been crushing lefties all season and has a 1.016 OPS against them with eight home runs and a team high 24 runs driven in.

Their switch-hitters, Adley Rutschman and Anthony Santander both hit well from the right side and Rutschman actually has more power from that side with a .460 slugging as a righty. 

The Blue Jays have seen Bradish before and last time he went seven innings and only allowed one run. Although he only had one strikeout in that game his 35th percentile whiff rate is a big cause for concern.

Bradish doesn’t miss a lot of bats and the Blue Jays can hit the ball as hard as any team in the league. As long as those line drives don’t go right into a fielder’s glove Toronto will put up some runs. 

This feels like it could be a high-scoring game in Ryu’s return to the mound, so I’ll take the over. 

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change