Phillies vs. Blue Jays Wednesday MLB odds: Charlie Montoyo fired as Toronto manager, replaced by John Schneider; interim bump coming for Jays?

Another MLB manager has been axed. The Toronto Blue Jays today fired Manager Charlie Montoyo – perhaps not a huge surprise overall givem that the Jays are a moderately disappointing 46-42 and 15.5 games behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East. However, the timing is surprising as the Jays won Tuesday and the All-Star break is around the corner. Bench coach John Schneider takes over as interim manager for the rest of the season starting tonight against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.

Entering play Wednesday, Toronto holds down the AL's final Wild-Card spot, but by only a half-game over hard-charging Seattle. On the most recent odds to make the playoffs (currently down with games going), the Jays were -350.

The 56-year-old Montoyo had signed a contract extension through the 2023 season in April. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that a combination of bad losses and questions in the clubhouse about leadership were what led to the firing. The last Blue Jays manager fired midseason was John Gibbons in June 2008 with a 35-39 record. That team played much better under Cito Gaston (51-37) but didn't make the playoffs, finishing 86-76.

Some bettors believe in an "interim" bump when there's a managerial/coaching change. It hasn't worked for the Los Angeles Angels under interim manager Phil Nevin after canning Joe Maddon, but the Phillies have played much better since firing Joe Girardi and replacing him with bench coach Rob Thomson – incidentally, on Tuesday he became the first Canadian to manage a big-league game in his home country. 

Ross Stripling (4-3, 3.34) is on the mound tonight for Toronto, and he's winless in three straight starts. Stripling has given up 11 runs in 24.1 innings across his last five appearances. Philly's Kyle Schwarber is 3-for-8 career off him with a homer. Schwarber is the clear favorite at Caesars Sportsbook among all players to go yard tonight at +220.

Phillies ace Zack Wheeler (8-4, 2.46 ERA) has been great in his last two outings, going seven innings in each effort with exactly five Ks and one walk in each – both against the Cardinals. Only a few Blue Jays have faced him in the regular season. Teoscar Hernandez has had the most success, going 2-for-5 with a homer. 

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