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Oakland Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays Free Pick 05/19/18

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Athletics will be taking on the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. This AL matchup can be viewed across the country on Fox Sports One and the opening pitch is scheduled for 1:07 p.m. ET.

Oakland Athletics at Toronto Blue Jays Odds

Vegas has listed Oakland (-125) as the favorite over Toronto (+115). The total sits at 9.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over for even money (+100) and the under for -120. You can also bet on the game’s runline with the most recent odds sitting at Athletics -1.5 runs (+120) and Blue Jays 1.5 runs (-140).

The Blue Jays are 22-23 SU and 22-21 ATS. The team has gained 0.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 0.0 units against the spread (ATS). Toronto has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven. The Athletics, on the other hand, are 23-22 SU and have gone 20-23 ATS. In total, the team’s accumulated 1.9 units for moneyline gamblers over the early portions of the season, but have lost 6.0 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.

Blue Jays games have had an over/under record of 19-19-5 so far in 2018. Oakland has an over/under record of 22-19-2.

The left-handed Sean Manaea will get the nod for the visiting Athletics. Manaea is 5-4 with a 2.35 ERA and 49 strikeouts. He has yet to face Toronto this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 1-0 record with a 3.46 ERA and 14 strikeouts.

The Blue Jays are going with righty Sam Gaviglio (1-0, 2.08 ERA), who has six strikeouts and one walks to his name, as well as a 0.69 WHIP. Gaviglio only made one start against the Athletics in 2017 (0-1, 13.50 ERA and six strikeouts across 4.2 innings).

Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starters own a 4.56 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 7.46 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.91, along with a WHIP of 1.23 and a K-per-9 of 7.88.

Athletics hitters have slashed .250/.324/.430 on their way to 4.6 runs scored per game this season, including 4.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).

Second baseman Jed Lowrie and third baseman Matt Chapman have led Oakland’s hitters. Lowrie is slashing .328/.391/.559 with nine home runs, 37 RBIs and 19 runs scored, while Chapman (.248/.342/.472) is up to eight homers, 21 RBIs and 28 runs scored.

Chapman taken a step back when hitting right-handed pitching on the road last year. Over 115 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .149/.243/.347 (compared to his total season line of .234/.313/.472).

For the home team, Toronto’s pitchers have yielded 4.9 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 5.54 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.22 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.

Toronto’s offense is putting up 4.8 runs per contest, including 3.8 per game over its last 10 games and 4.6 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .254/.345/.370 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.

Outfielders Kevin Pillar and Curtis Granderson have led the Blue Jays’ batters so far. Pillar is hitting .301/.337/.497 with four home runs, 19 RBIs, 26 runs and eight steals, and Granderson’s line sits at .269/.433/.462 with three homers, 14 RBIs and 20 runs.

Compared to his total season slash line of .255/.300/.403, Pillar performed well against left-handed pitching at home last year, slashing .333/.364/.583 over 77 such plate appearances.

The Athletics have gained 0.9 units and are 11-15 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 16 of those games, compared to 10 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have lost 1.1 units and are 10-7 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in six of those games, compared to nine which went under the total.

Oakland Athletics at Toronto Blue Jays Free MLB Tip

Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – UNDER

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Notes

Betting Notes

The Athletics have won four of their last five games SU while the Blue Jays have lost five of their last six SU.

Toronto has recorded 19.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.2 over its last five.

The Athletics have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games, including 11 over their last five.

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Written by GMS Previews

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