Oakland Athletics vs Toronto Blue Jays Picks and Predictions June 7th 2024

Blue Jays Set Sights on .500 Mark in Visit to A’s

In an effort to reach a.500 record, the Toronto Blue Jays will begin a three-game road series against the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

Blue Jays’ Recent Performance

The last time the Blue Jays reached this point was on April 29, when they were 15-15. They were leading 11-7 at that point, but then dropped 10 of 14 over their next three games to fall to their worst record of the season at 19-25. They lost to the Baltimore Orioles in two days and split their fourth straight game.

That’s a record the Blue Jays have not achieved since April 29, when they had a 15-15 record. During that time, they suffered defeats in their following three games and 10 out of 14 matches, resulting in their season’s lowest point with a record of 19-25. However, they have since improved with an 11-7 streak. They have won against the Baltimore Orioles in the last two days, resulting in a tie in their four-game series.

“We’re not in a position where we want to be, but we’ve been grinding,” said Yusei Kikuchi, Thursday’s winning pitcher. “We haven’t given up. We’ve got 100 games left. That’s still a lot of season, so hopefully we can ride this momentum and keep winning.”

Chris Bassitt’s Return to Oakland

Toronto hopes right-hander Chris Bassitt (6-6, 4.13 ERA) is the right man in the right spot to keep the club rolling.

The 35-year-old pitched six seasons for the A’s, highlighted by a 12-4 campaign in 2021 in which he was selected to the American League All-Star team. He hasn’t lost to his old club since being dealt to the New York Mets in March 2022.

Bassitt got plenty of support from his Mets teammates in a 9-2 win in his first return to Oakland on Sept. 23, 2022. He threw eight innings that day, allowing six hits.

He had a similar experience last September, only it was the Toronto offense that made things easier for him. He again went eight innings, allowing seven hits in a 7-1 win.

In his career, he’s 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA in four starts against the A’s.

Bassitt comes into the beginning with a three-game winning streak, giving up only three runs in his past 17 innings. He is the sole MLB pitcher who has received a verdict in every one of his 12 or more starts this season.

Facing the A’s: Hogan Harris

Among the unfamiliar faces he will see in his old stomping grounds will be A’s left-hander Hogan Harris (0-0, 3.14 ERA), who was promoted by Oakland for the first time the season after Bassitt was traded.

Harris has faced Toronto just once in his career, that coming as a bulk-innings reliever in Toronto last June. He was roughed up for four runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings that day in a 7-3 loss. He did not get a decision.

The 27-year-old pitched effectively in his first start of this season on May 30, limiting the Tampa Bay Rays to one earned run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5, 12-inning road loss.

A’s Recent Struggles

That game came in a stretch in which A’s starters have allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of nine outings. Oakland is just 3-6 over that span, however.

“It’s been a good run; we have definitely pitched. Offensively we haven’t taken advantage of that,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after Thursday’s 3-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners. “Generally, you get good pitching, you win games. We’ve had good starting pitching the last 10 or 12 outings. We haven’t capitalized on it.”

Game Outlook

As the series begins, the Blue Jays aim to continue their recent positive momentum and break past the .500 mark. With Bassitt’s history of strong performances against his former team and his recent winning streak, Toronto has reason to be optimistic.

The A’s, despite having good starting pitching performances, have struggled to capitalize offensively. Hogan Harris will need to build on his effective start against Tampa Bay to give Oakland a chance to turn their fortunes around.

As both teams strive to achieve their respective objectives, the game will be fiercely competitive for fans. The A’s want to find consistency and take advantage of their pitching strengths, while the Blue Jays want to move above.500 in the standings.