The Toronto Blue Jays kick off a 10-game road trip against the Oakland Athletics fresh off a sweep of the Atlanta Braves.
With a lineup that's close to full strength for the first time this season, Toronto flexed its offensive might and scored 26 runs over the three-game set with Atlanta.
Can Toronto keep its hot bats going in Oakland's pitcher-friendly park? Find out with our best free MLB betting picks and predictions for Blue Jays vs. A's, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET.
Blue Jays vs A's odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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MLB Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonOakland opened as a -120 favorite at BetMGM Nevada and is up a few cents to -125 at 7 p.m. ET. "A few more tickets on the Blue Jays, but money is about 3/1 on the A's, including a $10,000 bet," BetMGM Nevada's Scott Shelton said. The total is stable at 8.5. "There's one more ticket on the Under, and money is within a hundred bucks. Dead two-way on the total," Shelton said.
Check out the full line movement for this gameBlue Jays vs A's betting preview
Starting pitchers
Steven Matz (4-1, 4.00 ERA): The left-hander has impressed in his first season with the Blue Jays, allowing three runs or fewer in four consecutive starts before turning in his first bad outing of the season. Matz couldn't make it out of the fourth inning during his last start against the Washington Nationals, getting hammered for six runs on eight hits. It was the first start of his that the Blue Jays didn't win. He's striking out a batter per inning and most of his rate stats are in line with his career averages, so as long as he can stay healthy (which he has struggled to do), Matz should continue to be a solid rotation option for Toronto.
Frankie Montas (2-2, 6.20 ERA): The hard-throwing righty has been disappointing again this year after a rough go in the abbreviated 2020 year. While his splitter has been a plus pitch for him, hitters have teed off on his harder stuff, leading to a 6.20 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and a home run rate that's among the highest in the game. Oakland needs Montas, who was on his way to a breakout season in 2019 before he was suspended halfway through for taking a banned substance, to be better, especially with left-hander Jesus Luzardo landing on the injured list. Correcting his home run issues (he has allowed six in five starts) would go a long way to getting Montas, whose velocity, strikeout, and walk rates are all major-league average or better, back on track.
Weather
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Key injuries
Blue Jays: George Springer OF (Out), Alejandro Kirk C (Out), Julian Merryweather RP (Out), Anthony Castro RP (Out).
A's: J.B. Wendelken RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 3-0-1 in Toronto's last four games. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. A's.
Moneyline pick
Over the course of a few days, the Blue Jays suddenly look like a different team. That's because they finally have their leadoff hitter in the lineup and welcomed back a middle-of-the-order bat.
George Springer made his long-awaited debut for Toronto and clubbed a pair of homers Saturday in his third game, while slugger Teoscar Hernandez returned from a three-week COVID absence. That gives Toronto a three-time All-Star in Springer and a big power threat in Hernandez, who unleashed on pitchers last season and ranked 16th in the majors in slugging and tied for fifth in homers. Those two add to a lineup that features, among others, breakout star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., shortstop Bo Bichette, and offseason acquisition Marcus Semien, giving the Blue Jays a deep and powerful offense. Springer is, however, getting a rest day tonight and will be out of the starting lineup.
After outscoring the Braves by 14 runs over the sweep, Toronto now ranks third in the American League in run differential and sits 1.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox for first in the East.
The A's, meanwhile, went from worst to first in a hurry and quickly put their 0-6 start behind them thanks to reeling off a 13-game winning streak. Oakland has gone 3-5 since but was able to salvage its season before things got out of hand and all confidence was lost. Somehow, the club will enter this series opener in first place in the West and tied for the most wins in the AL after avoiding a three-game sweep with a win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.
But with the way the Jays are swinging it and how solid Matz has been outside of his last start, getting Toronto as an underdog against the shaky Montas is too enticing to pass up.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays (+112)
Over/Under pick
Oakland's home park is often viewed as a pitcher's paradise, but so far this season the opposite has been true.
While we shouldn't react too much to the small amount of data we have this early in the season, considering the three-year Statcast sample still paints it as one of most pitcher-friendly parks and most difficult to hit the ball out of, it has been an above-average park for hitters and will now welcome Toronto's potent bats.
The Blue Jays lead the AL in home runs, which is impressive considering they've only gotten 10 games out of Hernadez and four from Springer. Oakland is right behind the Blue Jays, tied for second in the AL, and has been led by Matt Olson's seven homers and 1.003 OPS.
These teams can crush at any ballpark. And Montas' issues with the long ball (Matz has historically struggled in this area, too) and tendency to allow too many batters to reach base should leave Toronto with plenty of opportunities to put multiple runs on the board with one swing of the bat.
Don't be fooled by Toronto's 9-16-1 O/U mark, which has led to the team cashing Unders at the third-highest rate in the majors. A correction is coming. The Blue Jays' offense is dangerous and their pitching isn't good enough to offset that. Expect a few bombs to drive up the score and take the Over.
PREDICTION: Over 8.5 (-110)
Blue Jays vs A's betting card
- Blue Jays (+112)
- Over 8.5 (-110)
Picks made on 5/02/2021 at 9:40 p.m. ET
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