Tigers vs. Blue Jays Tuesday MLB probable pitchers, odds: Toronto final team to host home opener, renovated Rogers Centre should be more hitter-friendly
MLB scheduled the Toronto Blue Jays for a 10-game road trip through Missouri and California to start the season because renovations were being completed at Rogers Centre. The Jays will be the final team to host their home opener Tuesday as they face the Detroit Tigers, and the new dimensions of Rogers Centre should make it more hitter-friendly. Toronto is -285 at Caesars Sportsbook with a total of 9 runs.
In order to improve the fans' in-ballpark experience, the Jays spent around $300 million on Rogers Centre renovations with raised bullpens and new wall dimensions.
Straightaway right field now is 359 feet from home plate (previously 375) and the right-center power alley is 372 feet (previously 383). The right-field wall now is 14 feet and 4 inches high, while the right-center wall is 10 feet and 9 inches. The park's walls previously were all 10 feet. Straightaway left field is now 368 feet deep (decreased from 375) and left-center is 371 feet (from 383). The center-field wall remains 400 feet away but was lowered to 8 feet. The right and left field corners remain unchanged.
The Blue Jays expect the new field to play neutrally in terms of home runs and runs scored, but MLB.com ran a few numbers while noting that "line-drive homers now have a better chance of being knocked down while soaring fly balls now have a better chance of clearing the wall." The research also found that:
- 26 non-homers from 2022 would likely go out.
- Seven home runs from 2022 would likely stay in.
- The new dimensions likely would have added 19 home runs from '22 to '23 (one home run per 4.2 games)
Toronto is a very respectable 6-4 following road series with St. Louis, Kansas City and the L.A. Angels. The Jays rallied from a 6-0 deficit on Sunday to win 12-11 in 10 innings. Matt Chapman is off to an MVP-caliber start, leading the AL in batting average (.475) and is tied for first RBI (14).
It's ace Alek Manoah (1-0, 4.35 ERA) on the mound Tuesday for Toronto. Manoah fired seven shutout innings last Wednesday in a win over the Royals, allowing just one hit. He's 0-1 with a 4.63 ERA in two career starts vs. Detroit.
The Tigers' Matt Manning (1-0, 3.18) made his 2023 debut last Tuesday and allowed two runs over 5.2 innings in an upset victory in Houston. Detroit enters at 2-7 and the seat of manager AJ Hinch continues to get hotter.
The Jays were 47-34 at home last year.
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