Blue Jays vs. Reds Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 5/22/2022

Following a two-homer game last time out, Bo Bichette leads the Toronto Blue Jays (22-18) into action as -243 favorites against the Cincinnati Reds (11-28). First pitch from Rogers Centre at 1:37 PM ET on Sunday. Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi and Cincinnati’s Graham Ashcraft have been named the starters for this contest.

Blue Jays vs. Reds Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Blue Jays vs. Reds

Our computer pick: Cincinnati Reds (+200) and Over (8.5)

Blue Jays vs. Reds Game Info

• Toronto Blue Jays probable starting pitcher: Yusei Kikuchi
• Cincinnati Reds probable starting pitcher: Graham Ashcraft
• Game Day: Sunday, May 22, 2022
• Game Time: 1:37 PM ET
• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Stadium: Rogers Centre

Toronto Blue Jays vs Cincinnati Reds Pitching Matchup

Blue Jays Starter Yusei Kikuchi

• The Blue Jays are sending Kikuchi (2-1) to the mound for his eighth start of the season. He is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 33 strikeouts through 32 innings pitched.
• His most recent time out was on Monday against the Seattle Mariners, when the lefty threw six scoreless innings while giving up only one hit.
• The 30-year-old has amassed a 3.38 ERA and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings across seven games this season, while allowing a batting average of .184 to opposing hitters.
• Kikuchi has two quality starts under his belt this year.
• Kikuchi is aiming for his fourth straight outing lasting five or more innings. He averages 4.2 frames per appearance on the mound.
• The opposing Reds offense has the 26th-ranked slugging percentage (.351) and is 24th in MLB play with 31 home runs. It has a collective .219 batting average, and is 28th in MLB with 276 total hits and 23rd in MLB play scoring 152 runs.

Reds Starter Graham Ashcraft

• Ashcraft will make his first start of the season for the Reds.
• The right-hander will make his MLB debut at the age of 24.
• The Blue Jays have scored 145 runs this season, which ranks 24th in MLB. They have 307 hits, 18th in baseball, with 41 home runs (10th in the league).

Blue Jays Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Blue Jays have won 18 out of the 30 games, or 60%, in which they’ve been favored.
• Toronto has a record of 2-1 in games where oddsmakers favor them by at least -243 on the moneyline.
• The bookmakers’ moneyline implies a 70.8% chance of a victory for the Blue Jays.
• So far this season, Toronto and its opponents have hit the over in 15 of their 40 games with a total.
• The Blue Jays have an ATS record of 17-23-0 in 40 games with a spread this season.

Reds Betting Picks & Insights

• The Reds have won in 10, or 29.4%, of the 34 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• The Reds have won all of their four games in which they were named as at least a +200 moneyline underdog.
• The Reds have an implied victory probability of 33.3% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Cincinnati and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 23 of their 40 opportunities.
• The Reds are 18-22-0 against the spread in their 40 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Blue Jays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has racked up a team-high seven home runs.
• In all of Major League Baseball, Guerrero is 30th in home runs and 39th in RBI.
• George Springer has shown his power as he paces his team with seven home runs and 22 RBI.
• Springer ranks 30th in homers and 31st in RBI in the major leagues.
• Springer has five straight games with at least one hit. During his last five outings he is hitting .278 with a triple, two walks and four RBI.
• Bichette is hitting .248 with eight doubles, six home runs and nine walks.
• Bichette is on a two-game hitting streak entering this contest. In his last five games he is batting .350 with a double, three home runs, a walk and six RBI.
• Santiago Espinal’s .295 batting average leads his team.
• Espinal has recorded at least one hit in 14 straight games. In his last 10 games he is hitting .361 with two doubles and three RBI.

Reds Leaders & Batting Stats

• Tyler Naquin leads the lineup with a batting average of .265, while leading the Reds in home runs, with four and runs batted in with 21.
• In all of the majors, Naquin is 79th in homers and 39th in RBI.
• Tommy Pham has a team-best four home runs.
• Pham is 79th among all hitters in the majors in home runs, and 159th in RBI.
• Kyle Farmer is hitting .226 with 11 doubles, a home run and seven walks.
• Tyler Stephenson paces the Reds with four home runs.

Betting Tips for Blue Jays vs. Reds

After digging through all of the key stats and trends for this matchup, our best bet is the Reds on the moneyline at +200. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8.5 runs.