The Oakland Athletics (23-33) and the Toronto Blue Jays (27-28) will clash in a four-game series starting Thursday night at Rogers Centre in Toronto, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET. This matchup marks the first meeting of the season – the teams ended their last season with a 3-3 tie in the series.
In their recent performances, the Athletics dropped a 5-3 game to the Houston Astros, marking their 13th loss in the last 14 games, while the Blue Jays secured a 2-0 win against the Texas Rangers, demonstrating strong pitching throughout the series.
On the mound, the A’s will send Jacob Lopez, with a 0-2 record and a 2.57 ERA, to face off against the Blue Jays’ José Berríos, who has a 1-2 record with a 4.22 ERA. Lopez recently pitched 7 innings, allowing just one earned run against the Philadelphia Phillies, whereas Berríos aims to continue his solid performance, boasting a record of 3-0 in his last five starts against the A’s.
The betting odds favor the Blue Jays, offering -145 on the moneyline, while the A’s are at +120. Given the current trends, the Blue Jays are confident in their recent form, having won four of their last five games at home against the Athletics.
The matchup holds promise for fans, as the Blue Jays, despite not being elite, are showcasing improving performances. The A’s, struggling to find consistency, face a formidable challenge as they attempt to turn their luck around.
This is an exciting time for both teams as they face off, and hopefully for A’s fans, a turnaround in their performance lies just ahead.