- What: MLB Regular Season Game
- When: Friday, August 9
- Who: Oakland Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays
- Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
- Where: Rogers Centre (Toronto, ON)
This season, the American League’s struggling teams, the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays, will face off in a three-game series. The Athletics will visit the Blue Jays.
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are currently at the bottom of the AL West, trailing the leading Houston Astros by a daunting 12 games.
It’s been another tough season for the A’s as they undergo significant organizational changes to shape their future.
Their recent performance has been mixed. They’ve split their last 10 games with a 5-5 record. They’ve often lost series throughout the season with a 1-2 record, indicating some setbacks.
First of three in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/0nbJABf06o
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) August 9, 2024
However, their record has improved from last year’s, and they are keen on identifying bright spots as the season progresses.
Their recent victory against the White Sox has boosted their confidence, and they are aiming for more wins.
Mitch Spence is gearing up for his 15th start of the season. Having played both as a relief pitcher and a starter, he has performed better in relief appearances.
Additionally, he has successfully limited home runs, which could benefit him against the struggling Blue Jays lineup.
Over his last three starts, he has only conceded a combined five runs, showcasing a growing confidence likely to continue in his upcoming game.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are struggling in the AL East. They are currently in last place and trail the leading Baltimore Orioles by 15.5 games.
They have won only 4 out of their last 10 games, and seven of their last 10 games were against the Orioles, from which they managed to snatch only two wins.
Friday night baseball at Rogers Centre ⚾️ #TOTHECORE pic.twitter.com/K3oNWxPxcc
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 9, 2024
Despite having talented players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays find it challenging to close the gap with the divisional leaders after their successful previous season.
To turn things around, the Blue Jays are sending Jose Berrios to the mound for his 24th start of the season. Berrios has been the team’s best home pitcher, boasting a 7-2 record and a sub-3 ERA.
He has also demonstrated great control, with 49 strikeouts and only seven home runs allowed in his home ballpark.
Berrios is particularly effective against left-handed batters and aims to start the series aggressively, looking to maintain his dominance on the mound.
A’s-Blue Jays Best Bet
The two teams are both looking to close out the season on a positive note and achieve a respectable record.
While the Athletics have made some progress, they still have a long way to go to become competitive again and are expected to make significant changes in the offseason.
The Blue Jays have had a disappointing season by their standards, especially with uncertainties surrounding Vladimir Guerrero’s future with the team. It will be intriguing to see how the Blue Jays regroup going forward.
When analyzing this game, the pitching matchup stands out as a clear advantage for Toronto. Jose Berrios has been a standout performer this season, particularly when playing at home.
With the Athletics’ lineup struggling to generate hits, Berrios is likely to dominate early in the game and deliver scoreless innings.
I’m picking the Toronto Blue Jays to win on the moneyline.
They have a 2-1 record against Oakland this season, winning both games by at least two runs.
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