The Oakland Athletics (74-62) and Toronto Blue Jays (72-62) close out a three-game series at Rogers Centre Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:07 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze the lines around the Athletics vs. Blue Jays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
LHP Cole Irvin is the projected starting pitcher for the Athletics. Irvin is 9-12 with a 3.74 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 6.0 K/9, and 2.0 BB/9 over 149 IP across 26 starts.
- Has been Mr. Consistent for the A’s. Irvin allowed exactly 3 ER in each of his last four starts, and he’s allowed 3 or fewer ER in six straight outings.
- After posting a 3.65 ERA in the first half, has logged a 3.98 mark in the second.
- Has been helped by an 8.0% HR/FB rate. That low rate of round-trippers comes alongside a relatively high fly ball rate and a decent amount of contact.
LHP Robbie Ray is the projected starting pitcher for the Blue Jays. He is 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 11.4 K/9, and 2.2 BB/9 through 159 1/3 IP over 26 starts.
- Has benefited from a .268 batting average on balls in play and an 89.1% left-on-base rate.
- Owns a 1.72 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over his last 47 IP. That stretch includes five starts at Rogers Centre (1.59 ERA).
- Has held current Oakland batters to an aggregate .692 OPS.
Athletics at Blue Jays odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Athletics +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Blue Jays -230 (bet $230 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Athletics +1.5 (-112) | Blue Jays -1.5 (-108)
- Over/Under: 9.5 (O: -102 | U: -122)
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Prediction
Blue Jays 6, Athletics 4
Money line (ML)
Oakland has dropped the first two games of this series and is just 4-9 since Aug. 21.
Toronto’s wins over the A’s have been by scores of 11-10 and 10-8. The Blue Jays are 6-1 over their last seven games.
Overall, the Blue Jays have tended to fly under the radar with their win-loss record. The Jays going just 13-15 in 1-run games has led to a team averaging 5.05 runs per game while allowing 4.16 not really getting the most out of that differential.
In general, the Athletics are a fade team right now and the Blue Jays are a play team. It would take a big counterweight in the mound matchup for the A’s to get any value.
BACK THE BLUE JAYS (-230).
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Toronto doesn’t tend to play in a large percentage of close games. The Jays have a big edge here in the bullpen fatigue department, so the later innings play out with Toronto holding the best cards.
TAKE TORONTO -1.5 (-108).
Over/Under (O/U)
Would’ve liked to get an 8.5 as the number and back the Over. But that number does not have workable pricing in the alternate totals.
PASS.
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