Toronto Blue Jays (54-63) vs Oakland Athletics (49-69)
Game Info: Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 1:37 pm (Rogers Centre)
The Line: Betting Odds: Toronto Blue Jays -156 / Oakland Athletics +131 — Over/Under: 8.5
The Oakland A’s and the Toronto Blue Jays meet Sunday in MLB action from Rogers Centre. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Oakland Athletics vs Toronto Blue Jays Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Oakland A’s will start JP Sears in this one and Sears is 9-8 with a 4.35 ERA and 97 strikeouts this season. This will be Sears’ second career start against Toronto. Chris Bassitt will get the start for the Blue Jays and is 9-10 with a 3.95 ERA and 124 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against Oakland, Bassitt is 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA and 25 strikeouts.
Oakland A’s Recap
The Oakland A’s come into this one looking to win the rubber match of the series after taking a 1-0 win over Toronto in Saturday’s matchup. The win gives Oakland a chance at back-to-back series wins after coming out ahead in their series against the Chicago White Sox earlier this week. The Athletics will face the Mets following this series.
A’s Trying To Climb Out Of AL West Basement
Entering Saturday’s matchup, Brent Rooker leads the A’s with 107 hits and 81 RBIs along with 28 home runs this season while Abraham Toro has 80 hits and 26 RBIs. JJ Bleday has a team-high 33 doubles, 4 triples, 99 hits and 38 RBIs and Toro has a .247 batting average. Rooker also has 126 K’s at the dish this season, while Zack Gelof has the unfortunate title of leading strikeout bat with 131 strikeouts this season. Shea Langeliers has also chipped in 21 home runs and 57 RBIs.
Why the Oakland Athletics will win
- The Blue Jays have lost each of their last five day games against American League opponents.
- The Athletics have won six of their last nine games as road underdogs.
- The Blue Jays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games as favorites against American League opponents following a loss.
- The Athletics have covered the run line in six of their last seven road games after playing the previous day.
Toronto Blue Jays Recap
The Toronto Blue Jays will try to rebound and bounce back after letting Oakland even up the series at one win apiece following Saturday’s matchup. The loss put the Blue Jays at risk of failing to build on their series victory over Baltimore earlier this week.
Blue Jays Trying To Get Back To .500 By Season’s End
Going into Saturday, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the Blue Jays with 143 hits including 30 doubles, 23 home runs and 76 RBIs along with a .323 batting average and a .395 OBP. Daulton Varsho’s chipped in 13 home runs and 47 RBIs in addition to 17 doubles. Davis Schneider has 18 doubles while George Springer has a team-high 13 stolen bases. Varsho also has a team-high 108 strikeouts and 10 stolen bases as well this season. Bo Bichette and Ernie Clement also have 16 doubles this season.
Why the Toronto Blue Jays will win
- The Athletics have lost each of their last 10 Sunday games against American League opponents.
- The Blue Jays have won each of their last five games at Rogers Centre following a loss.
- The Athletics have failed to cover the run line each of their last 10 Sunday games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Blue Jays have covered the run line in four of their last five day games against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
Oakland Athletics vs Toronto Blue Jays Prediction
I’m leaning towards the A’s here strictly based on the value. I like Chris Bassitt, but he’s had a slightly higher ERA at home this season, which was different than his story last season. JP Sears has had his ups and downs, but he’s pitched very well as of late and given the inconsistent offense on both sides, I think this line is a little steep towards Toronto. Give me the Oakland A’s and the plus money here.