Astros vs. Blue Jays odds, line, score prediction, start time: 2024 MLB picks, July 1 bets from proven model

SportsLine's model simulated Monday's Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros game 10,000 times and released its MLB picks and predictions

By CBS Sports Staff

Jul 1, 2024 at 1:00 pm ET • 3 min read

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The Houston Astros will look to continue their recent winning trend when they face the Toronto Blue Jays in a Canada Day matinee in Toronto on Monday. The Astros (42-41), who took two of three from Toronto back in April, are 6-7 against American League East teams this season. The Blue Jays (38-45), who finished June at 11-16, are 5-4 against teams from the AL West. Houston has fared better than Toronto against right-handed pitching, going 31-26 against righties, while the Blue Jays are 31-36 against right-handers.

The game is slated to begin at 3:07 p.m. ET from Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Astros have the top-hitting team in MLB with a team batting average of .264, while the Blue Jays are batting .236, 20th-best. Houston is the -142 favorite (risk $142 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Astros vs. Blue Jays odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total runs scored is 8.5. Before making any Blue Jays vs. Astros picks, be sure to check out the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It entered Week 13 of the 2024 MLB season on a 131-105 run on top-rated MLB picks dating back to last season, and it has excelled on top-rated run-line picks during that span, going 20-8 (+809). Anybody following has seen big returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Astros vs. Blue Jays and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Blue Jays vs. Astros:

Astros vs. Blue Jays money line: Houston -142, Toronto +120
Astros vs. Blue Jays over/under: 8.5 runs
Astros vs. Blue Jays run line: Houston -1.5 (+114)
HOU: The Astros have covered the run line in 16 of their last 24 games (+9.45 units)
TOR: The Blue Jays have hit the game total Over in eight of their last 11 games (+5.75 units)
Astros vs. Blue Jays picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why you should back the Astros

Houston is expected to send right-hander Hunter Brown (5-5, 4.37 ERA) to the mound and he'll be backed by some big bats. Outfielder Yordan Alvarez continues to tear up opposing pitching. He has hits in four of the past five games, and has four multi-hit games over the past 10. In Friday's 7-2 loss to the New York Mets, he was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and a run scored. He was 2-for-4 on Saturday with a walk. In 80 games this season, Alvarez is batting .294 with 19 doubles, one triple, 16 homers and 41 RBI.

Outfielder Mauricio Dubon has also been red hot. He has hits in each of the last four games and in eight of 10. He was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Saturday's 9-6 win over the New York Mets. In 68 games this season, Dubon is batting .293 with 15 doubles, three homers and 29 RBI. See which team to pick here.

Why you should back the Blue Jays

Right-hander Yariel Rodriguez (0-2, 5.94 ERA) will start for Toronto. The undrafted rookie has appeared in five games, all starts, in 2024. His best outing came in a 5-1 win over San Diego on April 19. In that game, he worked four innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and one walk, while striking out seven. In 16.2 innings, he has allowed 11 walks, while striking out 17.

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been among Toronto's top hitters. In 83 games this season, he is hitting .297 with 17 doubles, 13 homers, 50 RBI and 40 runs scored. He has hit in four consecutive games, including a 3-for-5 effort with a double, home run and six RBI in Saturday's 9-3 win over the New York Yankees. In the four-game series with New York, Guerrero was 8-for-17 (.471) with two doubles, three homers and 10 RBI. See which team to pick here.