Oakland Athletics at Toronto Blue Jays odds, expert picks and prediction

Analyzing Sunday’s Oakland Athletics at Toronto Blue Jays odds and lines, with MLB expert picks and predictions.

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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