Atlanta Braves vs Toronto Blue Jays Picks and Predictions September 6th 2024

Kevin Gausman will start for the Blue Jays on Friday, as they are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. They are 5th in the AL East with a record of 67-74. The Braves are 3rd in the NL East with a record of 76-64 and they are favored on the money line for Friday’s interleague matchup (-178).

Friday’s over/under line is currently at 8 runs, and the game will start at 7:20 PM ET from Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. BSSE will be televising this one, and the Blue Jays are 3-1 against the Braves this season.

Toronto is sending right-hander Kevin Gausman to the mound today vs. the Braves. He has made 27 starts this year and has a record of 12-10 with a 4.07 ERA. Gausman’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.23. In his 27 appearances, he has turned in 13 quality starts, along with two complete games and one shutout. Gausman most recently faced the Twins, where he took the loss, giving up two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. Before that outing, he had won two straight starts.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been red hot at the plate for the Blue Jays, going 13/30 in his last seven games, including one home run and five RBIs. For the season, he is batting .328 with 28 homers and 92 RBIs, which is 8th best in the league. George Springer is 2nd on the team with 19 home runs but is batting just .219.

As a team, the Blue Jays are averaging 4.2 runs per game and have been a below-average home run-hitting team so far this season. Overall, they are 13th in batting average and have the 6th best strikeout rate in the league. Currently, Justin Turner is on a four-game hitting streak, while both Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho have three-game streaks.

Max Fried will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing against the Phillies, as he gets the start for the Braves today. In that August 31st start, he took the loss, giving up three earned runs in seven innings of work. Looking at his overall numbers, Fried has made 24 starts and has a record of 8-8. His ERA for the season is 3.52, along with a WHIP of 1.21. Opposing batters are hitting .226 off Fried this year. The left-hander has two complete games and one shutout this season, along with 12 quality starts. Per nine innings, Fried is averaging 8.32 strikeouts and 3.2 walks.

Marcell Ozuna has been one of the league’s top power hitters this season, as his 37 homers are 5th in the league and the top mark on the Braves. Ozuna is also hitting .307 for the season and comes into the game on a four-game hitting streak. Matt Olson is 2nd on the Braves with 25 homers but is hitting just .231 this season and has gone 6/26 over his last seven games.

Overall, the Braves are 4th in home runs this season and are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in the league. They have been a better offensive team on the road, averaging 4.6 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .241, which is 14th in the league.

Blue Jays Look to Play Spoiler Against Braves in Crucial Series

The Toronto Blue Jays are set to open a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves on Friday in Atlanta, and while they may be out of playoff contention, they have a chance to throw a wrench in the Braves’ postseason hopes. The Blue Jays have won nine straight games against Atlanta, and they’ll be looking to extend that streak against a Braves team battling for a National League wild-card spot.

Blue Jays’ Dominance Over Braves

The Blue Jays (67-74) have had remarkable success against the Braves in recent years. They swept Atlanta in a three-game home series in 2023 and also won all six matchups in 2021. Despite this dominance, Toronto finds itself far from the playoff picture this season and enters the series on a three-game losing streak, including back-to-back losses to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Even though the Blue Jays aren’t playing for October, they can still play spoiler. With nothing to lose, they’ll be looking to disrupt the Braves’ postseason push.

Braves’ Playoff Push

The Braves (76-64) are in the thick of the wild-card race, currently tied with the New York Mets for the final spot. After winning two of three games against the Colorado Rockies, the Braves stumbled in their series finale, losing 3-1. Atlanta’s manager, Brian Snitker, expressed frustration after Thursday’s loss.

With the wild-card race tightening, Atlanta knows they can’t afford to lose momentum, especially against a Toronto team that has been their Achilles’ heel.

Pitching Matchup: Fried vs. Gausman

For Friday’s opener, the Braves will start left-hander Max Fried (8-8, 3.52 ERA), who is coming off a loss to the Phillies. In that outing, Fried allowed three runs over seven innings while walking four and striking out four. He has faced Toronto twice before, posting a 1.50 ERA in those games.

The Blue Jays will counter with right-hander Kevin Gausman (12-10, 4.07 ERA). Gausman has been in solid form recently, allowing two or fewer runs in four of his last five starts, though he struggled a bit in his last outing against Minnesota, giving up two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Gausman has a strong track record against Atlanta, holding a 1.32 ERA over two career starts. Interestingly, Gausman previously played for the Braves in 2018 and 2019, going 8-10 with a 4.77 ERA.

Hot Hitters: Guerrero vs. Ozuna

This series will feature two of baseball’s hottest hitters—Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays and Marcell Ozuna of the Braves.

Guerrero has been on a tear since the All-Star break, batting an incredible .419 with 14 homers and 35 RBIs. He leads the majors in hits (67), doubles (19), and slugging percentage (.813), making him a constant threat at the plate.

On the other side, Ozuna has been the Braves’ most consistent hitter all season. After a 2-for-4 performance on Thursday, he raised his average to .307, ranking second in the National League. Ozuna is also second in homers (37) and third in RBIs (98), making him a key offensive weapon as Atlanta pushes for the playoffs.

Series Outlook

For the Braves, this series is a must-win as they continue to fight for a wild-card spot. However, Toronto has been a thorn in their side, and the Blue Jays will be eager to play spoiler, even without postseason aspirations of their own. With both Fried and Gausman capable of delivering strong starts, Friday’s game could be a tight, thrilling contest that sets the tone for the series.

For Atlanta, winning this series is crucial to keep pace in the wild-card race, but Toronto has nothing to lose and will be eager to extend their dominance over the Braves. It’s going to be an intense showdown as both teams face different stakes in this crucial late-season series.

For this Blue Jays vs. Braves matchup, our lean is to take the Blue Jays to win straight-up. We also have this as the 10th highest-scoring game of the day and are leaning towards taking the over. Looking at today’s starters, we have Kevin Gausman finishing with more strikeouts than Max Fried for the Braves.