MLB Betting – A’s vs Blue Jays Preview & Pick
The Oakland Athletics have shown a bit of fight lately, winning three straight games through August 9, but let’s not pretend that they’re still in the American League West hunt.
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MLB Betting – Athletics vs Blue Jays Preview & Pick
Date: Thursday, August 11, 2011
Venue: Rogers Centre
Broadcast: RSN
Oakland Athletics at Toronto Blue Jays Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com
Money Line: Blue Jays -138
Over/Under: 9
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Oakland Athletics (52-63 through August 9)
Guillermo Moscoso (4-6, 3.69)
That’s between the Rangers and Angels now. Like the Mariners, the A’s are just playing out the string.
They’ll send right Guillermo Moscoso to the hill on Thursday afternoon. He had a sexy 2.16 ERA in the first half but teams have really figured him out since the All-Star break. In four second-half starts, he’s 1-2 with a putrid 7.40 ERA and pathetic eight strikeouts in 20.2 innings. He’s 1-5 on the road this season with a 4.17 ERA.
Toronto Blue Jays (58-57 through August 9)
Brad Mills (1-1, 3.65)
The Toronto Blue Jays are building a solid young core with hopes of challenging the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays in the American League East. It isn’t time yet but the Jays have at least shown promise this season, remaining competitive and treading water around .500. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The nerves are calming for trade-deadline arrival Colby Rasmus, who has hit safely in six straight games after a slow start. Rookie J.P. Arencibia is already one of the most powerful catchers in baseball. Ricky Romero and Jose Bautista are All-Stars. Yunel Escobar looks like a fixture atop the order. And megaprospect Brett Lawrie has arrived for his first taste of the bigs.
The back end of Toronto’s rotation is a bit unclear going forward. Brad Mills will continue his audition for a future role on Thursday. He’s been serviceable enough over two outings, allowing five total runs over 12.1 innings, though his walks are a bit concerning.
MLB Trends
Over is 20-3-4 in OAK last 27 overall.
Over is 6-1-2 in OAK last 9 road games.
Over is 5-2-1 in OAK last 8 Thu. games.
TOR are 8-3 in their last 11 home games.
OAK are 4-12 in the last 16 meetings in Toronto.
OAK are 8-19 in the last 27 meetings.
MLB Free pick:
Though he lost his first start of 2011, Mills looked very comfortable as a lefthanded pitcher at home against some potent righthanded Texas Ranger bats. I think he’ll handle the popgun A’s just fine. Meanwhile, Moscoso has been terrible of late and is a worse pitcher on the road. The Jays make plenty of sense as a pick here.
Blue Jays vs Athletics prediction: Blue Jays 5, Athletics 3
