Athletics vs Blue Jays 09/03/21 – Odds and MLB Betting Trends

The Toronto Blue Jays are likely to be in a low-run environment this weekend, based on their opponent’s strong UNDER trend when they travel east. The Blue Jays are -150 home favorites and the Oakland Athletics are +130 underdogs with a 9.0-run total on the MLB odds for Friday night at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

The Blue Jays are 12-8 in their last 20 games as a home favorite, with the total going UNDER 13 times. They are 6-7 in their last 13 home games against AL West teams, with the over hitting eight times. The Athletics are 11-9 in their last 20 away games as an underdog of 100 to +150, with a 9-9-2 split on the totals. Oakland is 10-10 over its last 20 away games against AL East teams, but the total has gone UNDER 16 times (how the OVER/UNDER works).

The Athletics have a 74-60 record, but are 16-14 over their past 30 games. Oakland’s offense is 16th in MLB in runs per game (4.49) and 17th in OPS (.724). Matt Olson (.894 OPS) and Starling Marte (.861 OPS) have been Oakland’s best batters so far in the second half of the season, while Josh Harrison (.813) has fit in well since arriving at the trade deadline.

On the mound, Oakland ranks ninth in starting pitcher ERA (3.80) and eighth in reliever ERA (3.70). The Athletics have the seventh-best ERA (3.68) since the all-star break.

The Blue Jays have a 70-62 record, which includes a 16-14 mark in their last 30 contests. Toronto’s offense is seventh in runs per game (4.97) and first in OPS (.776). George Springer (1.083 OPS since July 16), Teoscar Hernández (.871) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.845) have been Toronto’s most productive batters in the second half of the season, and Marcus Semien (.835) will be facing his former team.

Toronto has the seventh-best starting pitcher ERA (3.74) and 13th-ranked reliever ERA (4.00). The pitching staff has the sixth-best ERA (3.57) since the all-star break.

Rookie righthander Alex Manoah (5-2, 3.15 ERA, 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings) is in line to start for Toronto on Friday, opposite lefthander Sean Manaea (8-9, 3.97 ERA, 9.8 SO/9). Manoah has a 1.50 ERA in three home starts at Rogers Centre and the Blue Jays are 8-2 as favorites at sports betting sites when he starts, although the OVER has hit in seven of those 10 matchups. The Athletics are 7-13 in their last 20 away games as an underdog with Manaea on the mound, and five of the last seven such matchups have finished UNDER. Manaea has a career 3.72 ERA in 29 innings against the Blue Jays.

Based on the Blue Jays’ recent rotation, righthander José Berríos (9-7, 3.53 ERA, 9.5 SO/9 will start Saturday, opposite Athletics righthander Paul Blackburn (0-1, 2.81 ERA, 5.1 SO/9). Berríos’ teams are 2-5 in his last seven starts at home, with the total going UNDER six times. Berríos also has a career 4.32 ERA against Oakland in 33.1 innings. The Athletics are 4-7 in Blackburn’s last 11 road starts with the OVER hitting six times, and he pitched seven scoreless innings in his only career start in Toronto back in 2017.

Lefthander Robbie Ray (10-5, 2.71 ERA, 11.4 SO/9) should be in line for Sunday’s start, opposite Athletics lefty Cole Irvin (9-12, 3.74 ERA, 6.0 SO/9). Ray’s teams are 12-8 in his last 20 home starts, and seven of the last 10 have finished UNDER. Irvin limited Toronto to one run over eight innings in a home start on May 4. The Athletics are 6-7 when Irvin starts on the road, and the total has gone UNDER in eight of those 13 matchups.

The Blue Jays’ next series is a four-game away set against the New York Yankees that begins on Monday.