In this article we will formulate a Blue Jays vs Athletics prediction for this MLB game on Friday, March 27th at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview
The Toronto Blue Jays went 94-68 last season and they finished first in the AL East standings, which was tied with the Yankees. Toronto started the season with a 12-2 loss against the Orioles and they split the four games in that series. The Blue Jays were right around .500 after May, but they turned it on and played great over the last few months. Toronto got a bye in the first round of the postseason and they beat the Yankees and Mariners, but lost to the Dodgers in game seven of the World Series. The Blue Jays were 54-27 at home and 40-41 on the road, while they scored 798 runs and allowed 721 runs.
Last season, Toronto had a 4.19 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP and a .241 opponent batting average, while they scored 798 runs with a .265 batting average and a .333 on base percentage. Bo Bichette (now on the Mets) led the team with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs, while Vladimir Guerrero added 23 home runs and 84 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Toronto is Kevin Gausman, who went 10-11 with a 3.59 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over 193.0 innings pitched last season.
Athletics Betting Preview
The Athletics were 76-86 last year and they finished fourth in the AL West standings, which was 14 games behind the Mariners for first. The Athletics started the season with a 4-2 loss against the Mariners and they split the four games in that series. The Athletics were 16-15 through April, but May and June were not kind to them and they quickly fell below .500. The A’s went 36-45 at home and 40-41 on the road, while they scored 733 runs and allowed 817 runs.
Last season, the Athletics had a 4.70 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP and a .252 opponent batting average, while they scored 733 runs with a .253 batting average and a .318 on base percentage. Tyler Soderstrom led the A’s with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs, while Brent Rooker added 30 home runs and 89 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for the Athletics is Luis Severino, who went 8-11 with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 162.2 innings pitched last year.
Why the Toronto Blue Jays will win
- The Athletics have lost each of their last nine road openers.
- The Blue Jays have won each of their last nine Friday night games against AL West opponents.
- The Blue Jays have covered the run line in eight of their last nine games following an extra innings loss.
- The Athletics have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six road openers.
- The Athletics have lost the first inning in four of their last five night games against AL East opponents.
- The Athletics have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last five night games against AL East opponents.
- The Athletics have trailed after 5 innings in six of their last seven road openers.
Why the Athletics will win
- The Athletics have won 15 of their last 20 games as road underdogs.
- The Blue Jays have lost three of their last four season openers as favorites against American League opponents.
- The Athletics have covered the run line in each of their last nine road games against AL East opponents.
- The Blue Jays have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six home games after going to extra innings.
- The Blue Jays have lost the first inning in each of their last three season openers against American League opponents.
- The Blue Jays have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four season openers against American League opponents.
- The Athletics have led after 5 innings in four of their last five games as road underdogs against American League opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Athletics’ last eight night games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the last five games between the Athletics and Blue Jays at Rogers Centre have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last four night games between the Athletics and Blue Jays.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in six of the Athletics’ last seven road games against American League opponents.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has hit a home run in three of the Blue Jays’ last five games against AL opponents.
- Kevin Gausman has recorded six or more strikeouts in eight of his 10 previous appearances against the Athletics.
- Ernie Clement has recorded at least one hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last 13 games.
- Ernie Clement has recorded a Double in each of the Blue Jays’ last four home games against the Athletics.
Athletics Player Prop Facts
- Nick Kurtz has hit a home run in two of the Athletics’ last three games against the Blue Jays.
- Luis Severino has recorded four or more strikeouts in seven of his last eight road appearances against AL East opponents.
- Brent Rooker has recorded at least one hit in each of the Athletics’ last nine games against the Blue Jays.
- Luis Severino has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances with the Athletics as underdogs against AL opponents.
- Shea Langeliers has recorded a Double in each of his last four appearances.
Blue Jays vs Athletics Prediction
Toronto will look to get back to the World Series after last season’s heartbreak, but that journey starts here with game one. The Blue Jays will start Gausman, who was pretty solid last year, and their offense should be very dangerous once again. The Athletics will go with Severino, who I don’t trust at all. The A’s might have a decent offensive attack, but their pitching staff will continue to struggle. Take Toronto -1.5 here.