The Toronto Blue Jays are finally living up to some of the preseason hype, and the betting world has taken notice.

The Jays are the biggest mover in the sports betting marketplace today, moving from modest -131 favourites on the opening line to solid -155 chalk for tonight’s home game against the Colorado Rockies.

It’s not hard to understand the love for Toronto. The Jays are coming off a four-game sweep in Texas that extended Toronto’s winning streak to five games. The Blue Jays haven’t won six in a row since May of 2011.

Josh Johnson takes the hill for Toronto and has put up a 1.77 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies. That’s Johnson’s lowest ERA against any team he’s faced at least twice.

But… don’t forget Johnson hasn’t won a game since Sept. 6 of last year, and he’s coming off a blister injury that hampered him in his last start. Johnson is 0-2 this year with a 5.40 ERA, not exactly numbers you want to lay -155 juice with.

Then again, the home team has never lost in the 12 interleague meetings between the Jays and Rockies. Toronto swept series at the Rogers Centre in 2002 and 2007.
Colorado, which remains without injured all-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, will counter with the very capable Jorge De La Rosa (7-4, 3.49).

Other big movers on the betting board today include the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.

The Nats opened as +109 underdogs at the Phillies but are now -120 favourites in several sportsbooks. Though Washington has won six of its last eight meetings with Philadelphia,

the Nats are sending Dan Haren (4-8, 5.70) to the mound. Haren has been rocked in his last two starts, allowing five runs in four innings to the Mets and getting clubbed for five more runs in five innings versus Colorado. He’s 0-3, 5.79 lifetime against the Phils, so if you want to jump on board the Nationals’ money move, do so with caution.

Houston also opened as a dog (+117) and is now a small favourite (-105 range) as it prepares to host the struggling White Sox. Believe it or not, the Astros are seeking their first four-game home sweep in four seasons. Yes, Houston is horrible (26-44) but the Astros are 4-6 in their last 10 games and send “ace” Bud Norris (5-6, 3.47) to the mound tonight. Norris is 7-3 with a 1.94 ERA in 19 home starts since the beginning of 2012. The White Sox, losers of four in a row, counter with Jose Quintana (3-2, 3.86), who is winless in five starts.