The Toronto Blue Jays (14-11) and Los Angeles Angels (10-15) will begin a four-game American League series on Thursday night at Angel Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 10:05 ET

Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels

Toronto finished up a six-game homestand with a convincing 11-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday afternoon, with the “over” going 4-2 in that span.  “Beating the Rangers, there’s a different vibe and different feel when you beat them,” commented Kelly Johnson after the game.  Offensively, the 11 runs is the most the club has scored this season, as it now embarks on a 10-game road trip.  Toronto is 23-26 as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last two-plus seasons.

Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow (2-1, 3.03 ERA) will be looking to win his third start in a row, coming off a 7-0 home victory over the Seattle Mariners last time out, tossing six shutout innings and surrendering just five hits.  The right-hander is 1-0 with a 0.66 ERA in two road outings this year, as opponents are hitting just .174 against him.  In 16 career games (three starts) versus the Angels, Morrow has registered an 0-3 record and 5.03 ERA, issuing 24 walks and striking out 28 batters in 34 frames.

Los Angeles opened up its current seven-game homestand by taking all three games against the Minnesota Twins, including a 9-0 victory on Wednesday night that was highlighted by starting pitcher Jered Weaver throwing his first career no-hitter.  The Angels came into the contest having not plated more than four runs or notched a double-digit hit total since April 21.  First baseman Albert Pujols is still scuffling at the plate, as his career-worst homerless streak reached 31 games.  Los Angeles is 8-15 after pitching a shutout over the last two-plus years.

Angels starting pitcher Dan Haren (1-1, 3.34 ERA) led the club to a win for the first time in five starts last time out, giving up just a single run and four hits over eight frames in a 2-1 road victory over the Cleveland Indians.  The right-hander is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA in three home starts this year, with opponents hitting .297 against him.  In 11 career games (10 starts) versus the Blue Jays, Haren is 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA, including a 2-0 mark and 2.25 ERA in three appearances (two starts) a year ago.

Bettors will likely back the Blue Jays due to their 8-2 mark in Morrow’s last 10 starts as a road underdog, while the Angels are 0-4 in Haren’s last four efforts as a home favorite.

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