Freddy Galvis and the surging Toronto Blue Jays will be taking the field versus the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in a Saturday showdown. NBC Sports – California will be airing this AL showdown and the game gets underway at 4:07 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland Athletics Odds
Bookmakers have Oakland (-135) as the favorite over Toronto (+125). If you’re thinking this game’s total is going to finish below 8.5 runs scored, then bookmakers are putting up even money odds (+100) for the under. Playing the over can give you -120 odds. This game currently has a runline of Blue Jays +1.5 (-170) and Athletics -1.5 (+150).
The Athletics are 11-11 straight up (SU) and 11-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 0.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.3 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total went over in six of those seven. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, have gone 9-12 SU this year and are 10-10 against the spread. In total, the club has lost 3.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in this young season, but have gained 0.0 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Oakland games have a 12-9 over/under record so far in 2019. Toronto has an over/under record of 8-12.
Matt Shoemaker will get the nod for the visiting Blue Jays. The right-handed Shoemaker is 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He has yet to face Oakland this year, but he did make three starts against the team in 2018, putting together a 1-1 record with a 7.94 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
The Athletics will turn to righty Mike Fiers (2-1, 7.06 ERA), who’s got 16 punchouts and 10 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.57. Fiers only made one start against the Blue Jays in 2018 (0-0, 1.13 ERA and five strikeouts across eight innings).
Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.21 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 8.76 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.74, along with a WHIP of 1.29 and a K-per-9 of 10.73.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .217/.290/.360 on their way to 3.8 runs scored per game this season, including 5.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Toronto’s offensive production has been powered by Freddy Galvis and Randal Grichuk. Galvis is slashing .304/.329/.544 with five home runs, 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored. Grichuk (.227/.310/.467) has produced four homers, seven RBIs and 15 runs scored.
In the home-team dugout, Oakland’s pitching staff has given up 4.6 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have a 4.87 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 6.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.95 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 9.1 K/9.
Oakland’s hitters have put up 4.8 runs per contest, including 6.2 per game over its last 10 games and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .220/.291/.365 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman have paced the Athletics’ hitters so far. Semien is slashing .325/.400/.506 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and 17 runs scored, and Chapman’s line sits at .295/.368/.590 with six homers, 14 RBIs and 11 runs.
The Blue Jays have lost 8.0 units and are 6-9 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in seven of those games, as opposed to eight that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Athletics have lost 3.9 units and are 6-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in seven of those games, as opposed to four which went under the total.
Blue Jays at Athletics MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Toronto has tallied 14 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Oakland has 13 XBH over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have won four of their last five games SU.
- Toronto has posted 21.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.4 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Athletics have hit 22 over their last 10.
- The Blue Jays have an OPS of .651 this season and an OPS of .667 against right-handed pitchers. The Athletics’ OPS sits at .756 overall and .737 versus righties.
