New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays – MLB, June 16, 2021

MLB fans get a nice rivalry game on Wednesday, as the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays go head to head for another AL East tilt.

This one is a bit more interesting than the series opener on Tuesday, of course, as Gerrit Cole will be toeing the rubber. Cole will hope to silence a potent Blue jays offense, while the previously sinking Yanks will aim to jump out to a 2-0 series lead.

Toronto could benefit from playing this one at home, but bettors might not be excited to back them with Ross Stripling on the mound. So, which team is worth betting on, or is there a better bet out there?

Let’s see how you should bet in Wednesday’s Yankees vs. Blue Jays betting pick and prediction.

The Yanks understandably open as the favorites at the best MLB mobile betting apps. That’s somewhat due to their explosive offense, but mostly due to the presence of ace Gerrit Cole.

I wouldn’t target New York’s run line here, as it’s best to get plus money for those types of bets. New York is plenty viable when it comes to their moneyline, while Toronto offers pretty nice value at +142.

The Yanks took game one of this series, but they have gone just 17-16 on the road this year.

I think the value is pretty good for both sides, but the really interesting bet could be the game total. Yes, Cole drives the total down a bit, and that’s why it comes in at a palatable 8.5.

However, Cole does give up some contact, and both of these offenses can put up runs in a hurry. Ross Stripling is also quite inferior in this spot, so it’s not unreasonable to expect the pinstripes to do most of the damage here.

This matchup is fairly simple to break down. Cole is one of the best aces in all of baseball, and he enters this game with a 7-3 record and a sparkling 2.31 ERA.

Cole can shut any offense down. He gives up some homers here and there (8 on the year) but has held firm at home (2.27 ERA, .205 opposing OBA) and has shredded the Jays (16 Ks, 2.38 ERA) across two previous meetings.

Most of Cole’s struggles have come from the left side of the plate, too. Toronto doesn’t have many guys to threaten him in that regard, so betting against Cole feels risky here.

Of course, with the whole fiasco with MLB lately, it’s arguable even the best pitchers could begin to see a bit of a dip.

Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer have become the faces of MLB's latest scandal.

But don't let it distract you from the name that really matters, writes @StephApstein https://t.co/BnnUo4K2gD

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 9, 2021

On the other side is Stripling, who can be a serviceable starter, but isn’t elite. Stripling doesn’t miss bats at an elite rate, and he has had major issues against powerful righties.

That’s problematic in this spot, as New York is full of capable right-handed bats that wield loads of power. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are the big guys, but the Yanks are loaded on the right side, and they collectively hit righties pretty well.

The issue with New York is the strikeouts, but I don’t think that’s a concern against someone like Stripling. Once things get to the latter stages, New York also holds the edge in the bullpen.

The Jays are tempting due to their price, but that feels like a “getting too cute” bet. They’re a potent offense, and they’re at home, but they’re facing one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Cole should keep them pretty quiet here, and he may have a ton of help even if he struggles. New York’s bats are tougher to trust than one would think, but Stripling doesn’t really have what he needs to contain them.

The Over stands out as a viable secondary bet. Both offenses can mash, and I only trust one pitcher here. I just think backing the Yanks is the safer play. New York has to win to stay in the playoff picture, and they have the edge in every regard in this matchup.