Athletics vs Blue Jays Baseball Picks
The A’s have the best record in baseball but their 5 game winning streak came to close in Tampa in extra innings. One of the reasons Oakland’s record is so great is that they are an awesome 18-7 on the road.
Oakland A’s (30-17) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (26-22)
Friday May 23
Rogers Centre – Toronto, CA
7:07PM
Probable Pitchers
OAK: Scott Kazmir (L)
TOR: R.A. Dickey (R)
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Moneyline: Oakland -109, Toronto +101
Total: 7.5
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Oakland
They are ranked 2nd in scoring and ERA so it is hard to be more balanced than that. I have been surprised their offense has been as good as it is because their underlying metrics don’t support it.
However, there is no luck to their pitching. It is that good, especially their bullpen with the exception of Jim Johnson.
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Scott Kazmir is continuing his renaissance this season in Oakland. His numbers have been great and he should be nice and fresh given that in his last start he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes after just 41 pitches.
He will be facing a hot lineup in Toronto, one with lots of righthanded power so he better be more focused. Last year he never faced this lineup as a member of the Angels.
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Toronto
This is a battle of first place teams thanks to Toronto’s road sweep of Boston. The Blue Jays have been getting solid starting pitching but their recent success is largely a result of their bats getting red hot.
This is the top home run hitting team in the league and Edwin Encarnacion is absolutely on fire of late – he has 7 homers in his last 7 games including three multi-homer games.
They definitely caught Boston at the right time but if they can keep winning against Oakland it will be even more impressive.
The Jays need R.A. Dickey to start acting more like an ace and part of that would be getting the team off to a good start in this series. He has been on a run of good but not great starts with 6 in a row without giving up more than 3ER and his numbers at home are much better than on the road.
What has been especially encouraging is how he has kept the ball in the park this season.
Last season he averaged more than a homer per start this year he has given up just 4 in 10.
The Jays are playing their best ball of the season and generally hit the ball well at home. That and the fact that R.A. Dickey is no longer hopeless at the Rogers Centre points to a victory for the home club in this one.
I think the over has good value too.
I am hesitant to believe that Kazmir is going to pitch well all season long and the Jays have been lighting up lefties.
Total prediction: Over
Score prediction: Toronto 7 – Oakland 3
