Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland Athletics Matchup

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The Toronto Blue Jays will head west to face off against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. MLB Network will be showing this AL showdown and the game is scheduled to get underway at 3:35 p.m. ET.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Oakland Athletics Odds

Oddsmakers have listed Toronto (+125) as the underdog to Oakland (-135). The total sits at 8.5 runs and gamblers can wager on the over or the under for -110. Gamblers can also wager on the games runline with the odds coming in at Blue Jays +1.5 runs (-170) and Athletics -1.5 runs (+150).

The Athletics are 61-45 straight up (SU) and 55-53 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 21.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 0.1 units (ATS). The Blue Jays are 47-56 SU and have gone 47-58 ATS. In total, the teams lost 8.7 units for moneyline bettors and 17.3 units ATS.

Oakland games have an over/under record of 52-49-7 in 2018. Toronto has been a decent over bet with a total record of 52-45-8.

The right-handed Marcus Stroman will get the nod for the visiting Blue Jays. Stroman is 4-7 with a 5.20 ERA and 62 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Athletics this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-0, 5.79 ERA and four strikeouts across 4.2 innings).

The Athletics are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Sean Manaea (9-7, 3.46 ERA), who has 93 strikeouts and 24 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.00. Manaea is 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 7.20 ERA in one start against Toronto this year.

Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 4.80 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.07 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.44, along with a K-per-9 of 9.24.

Blue Jays hitters have slashed .241/.315/.424 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game this season, including 4.5 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.8 per game over the teams last five outings (1-4 SU).

Toronto’s offense has been fueled by third baseman Yangervis Solarte and first baseman Justin Smoak, who collectively have swatted 33 home runs. Solarte is slashing .234/.287/.412 with 17 home runs, 53 RBIs and 45 runs scored. Smoak has a .252 average with 16 homers, 54 RBIs and 46 runs scored.

For the home team, Oakland’s pitching staff has allowed 4.4 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.42, a WHIP of 1.24 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.5. The bullpen has a 3.46 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.

The Oakland hitters have put up 4.7 runs per contest, including 6.0 per game over its last 10 games and 5.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .267/.362/.483 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.

The Athletics hitters have been led by second baseman Jed Lowrie and shortstop Marcus Semien. Lowrie is hitting .277/.359/.478 with 17 home runs, 66 RBIs and 48 runs scored, and Semien’s line sits at .254/.314/.369 with seven homers, 39 RBIs, 57 runs and 10 stolen bases.

The Blue Jays have lost 13.7 units and are 16-21 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 16 of those games, as opposed to 17 that’ve gone under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 19.2 units and are 36-35 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 35 of those games, compared to 33 that went under the total.

Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland Athletics Free MLB Tip

Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – UNDER

Betting Notes

  • The under has cashed in four of Oakland’s last seven games.
  • Oakland has posted 25.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.8 over its last five.
  • The Blue Jays have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.