The Oakland Athletics will be taking on the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The opening pitch is scheduled for 1:07 p.m. ET and NBC Sports – California will broadcast this AL matchup.
Oakland Athletics at Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Vegas has offered equal -105 moneyline odds on both of these teams. Bettors can wager on the games total with odds posted at -110 for over 9.5 runs and -110 for under 9.5. You can also wager on the games spread with the current runline odds sitting at +140 for the Athletics -1.5 runs and -160 for the Blue Jays +1.5.
The Athletics have gone 24-22 SU this year and are 22-23 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 4.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline over the early portions of the year, despite having lost 4.0 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are 22-24 SU and 22-23 ATS. The team has lost 2.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.0 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Blue Jays games have a 20-20-5 over/under record so far in 2018. Oakland has an over/under record of 23-20-2.
Daniel Mengden will get the start for the visiting Athletics. The right-handed Mengden is 3-4 with a 3.75 ERA and 36 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Blue Jays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Blue Jays are turning to righty Joe Biagini (0-2, 7.98 ERA), who has 11 strikeouts and seven walks as well as a 1.84 WHIP. Biagini did not record a start against the Athletics in 2017.
Oakland’s pitchers have allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.61 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 7.38 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.82, along with a K/9 of 7.85.
The Athletics offense has slashed .251/.325/.430 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game this season, including 5.2 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 5.4 per game over the teams last five outings (4-1 SU).
Oakland’s offense has been powered by Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis, who’ve collectively launched 22 home runs. Lowrie is slashing .328/.394/.559 with nine home runs, 37 RBIs and 20 runs scored, while Davis is hitting .238 with 13 homers, 38 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
In the home-team dugout, Toronto’s pitchers have given up 4.9 runs per game overall this season. The teams starters have an ERA of 5.42, a WHIP of 1.48 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.4. The bullpen has a 3.42 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.
Toronto’s offense is putting up 4.8 runs per outing, including 4.2 per game over its last 10 games and 4.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .235/.337/.371 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Blue Jays offense has been led by right fielder Kevin Pillar and first baseman Justin Smoak. Pillar is hitting .297/.335/.491 with four home runs, 20 RBIs, 26 runs and eight stolen bases, while Smoak’s line is .258/.377/.450 with six homers, 26 RBIs and 24 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .255/.300/.403, Pillar didn’t do as well hitting against righty pitching at home last year, slashing .208/.250/.303 over 236 such plate appearances.
The Athletics have gained 3.0 units and are 13-15 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 17 of those games, as opposed to 11 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have netted 0.1 units and are 12-15 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 14 of those games, compared to 10 that went under.
Oakland Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Athletics have won five of their last six games SU while the Blue Jays have lost six of their last seven SU.
- Toronto has posted 21.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.8 over its last five.
- The Athletics have hit 18 home runs in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays have hit nine over their last 10.
