Toronto Blue Jays vs Oakland Athletics Picks and Predictions August 11th 2024

JP Sears is starting for the Athletics on Sunday, and he is facing off against Chris Bassitt for the Blue Jays. Oakland is 49-69 this season, while the Blue Jays are 54-63. This AL matchup is set for 1:37 PM from the Rogers Centre in Toronto, and NSPCA is carrying the game on TV.

The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs, and the Blue Jays are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -160 compared to the Athletics at +135. This game is the 5th AL West vs. 5th AL East.

Oakland vs. Toronto Key Information

• Teams: Athletics at Blue Jays
• Where: Rogers Centre Toronto
• Date: Sunday, August 11th
• Betting Odds TOR -160 | OAK +135 O/U 8.5

Left-hander JP Sears gets the start for the Athletics today as he faces the Blue Jays on the road. Sears has made 23 starts this season and has a record of 9-8 with a 4.35 ERA. In his 23 starts, he has turned in eight quality starts and is averaging 6.91 strikeouts per nine innings. Sears’ WHIP for the season is 1.21, and opponents are batting .245 off him this year. In his last outing, Sears gave up just one earned run in seven innings of work, picking up the win. Before that, he had allowed at least two homers in three straight starts.

As a team, the Athletics are batting just .230 this season, which is 20th in the league. However, they do have the 4th most home runs in the league and are averaging 4 runs per game. Brent Rooker has been a bright spot for the team, as he is batting .290 for the season and has 29 home runs, which is 5th best in the MLB. His 82 RBIs is also 8th best in the league.

Over his last nine games, Rooker has gone 7/32 with three homers. Miguel Andujar has also been swinging the bat well of late, going 10/34 in his last nine games. However, he has yet to go deep in this stretch.

• The Athletics are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Athletics are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Oakland has an over/under record of 2-8 in their last ten games.
• The Athletics have an average of 2.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Athletics are 6-4
• Looking back across the Athletics last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Oakland has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Athletics have averaged 5.0 runs per game on offense

Chris Bassitt will be looking to build off his last outing, where he faced the Orioles and picked up the win. In that August 6th start, he went seven innings, giving up just two earned runs. Looking at his overall numbers, Bassitt has made 23 starts and has a record of 9-10. His ERA for the season is 3.95, along with a WHIP of 1.41. Opposing batters are hitting .258 off Bassitt this year. The right-hander has turned in 10 quality starts and is averaging 8.58 strikeouts per nine innings. For the year, he has allowed 13 homers and is averaging 3.46 walks per nine innings.

So far this season, the Blue Jays offense is averaging just 4.1 runs per game, which is 24th in the league. They have been slightly better on the road, averaging 4.2 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .240, which is 14th in the league and have the 11th best on-base percentage in the league. However, they are just 23rd in home runs and have a collective OPS of .694.

One of the few bright spots in the Blue Jays lineup has been Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .322 for the season and has gone 15/33 in his last nine games. Guerrero Jr. also leads the team with 23 homers and 76 RBIs. George Springer is 2nd on the team with 14 homers but is batting just .221 for the season.

• The Blue Jays are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Blue Jays are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Toronto has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Blue Jays have an average of 3.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Blue Jays are 3-7
• Looking back across the Blue Jays last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Toronto has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Blue Jays have averaged 4.6 runs per game on offense

The Oakland Athletics are set to face the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon, with their sights firmly set on securing their sixth series win in the last eight tries. With the series tied at one game each, the A’s are riding a wave of momentum and are eager to keep their impressive run since July 1 going strong.

Athletics on a Hot Streak

Since the start of July, the A’s have been on fire, posting an impressive 19-13 record—one of the best in Major League Baseball during that stretch. Their latest victory, a 1-0 shutout of the Blue Jays on Saturday, highlighted the resilience and form that’s been driving them all summer. Now, with the series on the line, Oakland is looking to close things out with another win on Sunday.

Blue Jays Searching for Consistency

The Toronto Blue Jays, on the other hand, have struggled to find their rhythm since July, posting a 16-18 record. Despite being at home, the Jays have had a tough time generating consistent offense, as shown by their two-hit performance in Saturday’s loss. One bright spot for Toronto has been Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who extended his hitting streak to 22 games, tying his career-best with a single in the first inning.

Pitching Matchup: JP Sears vs. Chris Bassitt

Oakland is sending left-hander JP Sears to the mound on Sunday. Sears has been solid this season with a 9-8 record and a 4.35 ERA. He’s had success against Toronto in the past, holding a 1.50 ERA in two career appearances against them. His steadiness will be key as the A’s aim to take the series.

The Blue Jays will counter with former Athletic Chris Bassitt, who comes into the game with a 9-10 record and a 3.95 ERA. Bassitt knows his old team well, sporting a 2.31 ERA in five starts against Oakland. In his last outing against the A’s, he pitched eight innings of one-run ball, although he didn’t get the decision. Bassitt’s familiarity with the A’s could give him an edge in this crucial matchup.

Players to Watch

Brent Rooker was the hero in Saturday’s game, launching his 29th home run of the season. That solo shot, confirmed after a video review, was the only run in the game. Rooker has been a powerhouse for the A’s, hitting .348 with 16 home runs over his last 37 games. His bat will be key as Oakland looks to overcome Bassitt and the Jays.

Oakland’s catcher, Shea Langeliers, also shined on Saturday, going 4-for-4 with all singles—marking his first career four-hit game. His steady contributions kept the pressure on Toronto’s pitching and were crucial in a tight contest.

Mason Miller, the A’s closer, has been nearly untouchable since coming off the injured list. Miller sealed Saturday’s win with a 103 mph strikeout of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the ninth inning, earning his 17th save of the season. His dominance in the late innings could be a game-changer on Sunday.

Managerial Insights and Strategy

A’s manager Mark Kotsay was thrilled with his team’s execution on Saturday, especially the clutch home run by Rooker that decided the game. Kotsay’s decision to challenge the initial ruling on Rooker’s hit was a game-changer, showing how crucial every call can be in a low-scoring game.

On the other side, Blue Jays manager John Schneider acknowledged the tough task his team faced against Miller but praised their effort in battling one of the league’s best closers. With the Jays’ offense struggling, Schneider will need to find a spark in his lineup to take down Sears and avoid a series loss.

A’s Defense Steps Up

Oakland’s defense also played a big role on Saturday, turning two double plays after going eight games without one. This defensive boost helped preserve their slim lead and will be essential in backing up Sears on Sunday.

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Wrapping It Up

As the A’s and Blue Jays gear up for the series finale, it’s shaping up to be a competitive showdown. Oakland’s recent hot streak and strong pitching could give them the upper hand, but Toronto’s need for a win at home adds extra pressure. With both teams fighting for momentum as the season heats up, Sunday’s game is a crucial opportunity for each side to make a statement.

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 7th highest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight-up, we have our lean on the Athletics to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, Chris Bassitt has the 7th worst strikeout projection among today’s starters, while JP Sears has the 16th best.