{"id":363597,"date":"2025-08-18T09:47:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.northstargaming.ca\/admin\/nsgcms\/?p=363597"},"modified":"2025-08-18T09:47:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:47:07","slug":"blue-jays-vs-pirates-best-bets-august-18-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.northstargaming.ca\/admin\/nsgcms\/blue-jays-vs-pirates-best-bets-august-18-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Jays vs. Pirates best bets Aug. 18: Fade Paul Skenes in series opener"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Toronto Blue Jays will get their first look at Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes<\/a> on Monday night in their series opener at PNC Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pregame narrative:<\/strong> Skenes, the odds-on favourite to win the NL Cy Young award, has never faced Toronto \u2014 and this should be a great battle for both sides. The Blue Jays have the best team OPS in the second half (.877). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out my Blue Jays best bets vs. the Pirates for Aug. 18, featuring Skenes and Bo Bichette<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Jays best bets vs. Pirates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Best bet: Under 3.5 runs – first five innings (-141)<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For as hot as the Blue Jays’ bats have been since the all-star break, I think the starting pitchers can win out in the early going of this game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skenes’ resume speaks for itself, as the reigning NL Rookie of the Year paces the majors in ERA (2.13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also has an NL-low 2.52 FIP, with two or fewer runs allowed in 20 of his 25 starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there’s Kevin Gausman, 11 years older than Skenes, who’s having a solid year and currently trending up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gausman has a 2.54 ERA over his past nine starts. This under is only 3-6 in that span, but that’s because of how strong the Blue Jays’ offence has been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can see Skenes keeping the Blue Jays in check as they try to get a handle on his elite stuff. Ty France, formerly with the Mariners, is the only active Toronto player who’s faced Skenes already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There shouldn’t be much to worry about offensively for the Pirates. Gausman is rolling, and Pittsburgh has one of the weakest lineups in the majors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pirates are dead last in MLB in slugging percentage (.346) and F5 runs per game (1.98), per Team Rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key stat:<\/strong> The under on this 3.5-run F5 total is 17-8 in Skenes’ 25 starts this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n