Did anyone else watch Wednesday’s game between the Blue Jays and the Rangers? It legitimately looked like it was being played in the dead-ball era. Toronto, who had been shutout on Tuesday, didn’t score for the first eight innings of the contest and was finally saved at the last moment by a pinch-hit Bo Bichette two-run home run in the ninth.
Meanwhile, the Rangers hit a single to leadoff the night in the bottom of the first, then they proceeded to not get a hit the remainder of the evening in day when the Blue Jays were utilizing a bullpen game. Woof. Like, I said, it wasn’t exactly a fun watch.
Still, despite registering only four total runs, Toronto won the series and now returns home on Thursday to face off with an Athletics squad that has dropped 13 of its last 14 contests. Can the Jays take advantage and get back to .500?
Let’s break down this matchup with some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Athletics vs. Blue Jays prediction, preview
Let’s talk about the Blue Jays’ offensive struggles, shall we? In their series against Texas, the team was 1-for-30 with RISP prior to Bichette’s game-winning blast on Wednesday. It should also be noted that the one hit — a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single on Monday — didn’t even score the runner on second base. It was that kind of series. Heck, it was that kind of road trip, as Toronto has slashed .184/.290/.265 with a .081 ISO over its last six contests. The oddest part? The Jays had actually been turning things around with the lumber in May and the team still owns a respectable 109 wRC+ in the month.
Jacob Lopez will be the one trying to keep Toronto off the scoreboard this evening. The left-hander has only four career MLB starts, yet he’s directly on the heels of the best one, holding the Phillies to a single run across seven innings last Friday. Lopez also struck out eight batters in that one, which is notable, as the 27-year-old has flashed elite strikeout potential in the minors. To wit, Lopez managed to rack up 38 strikeouts in only 27.0 innings of work in Triple-A in 2025.
On the other side of the pitching probables, you’ll find Jose Berrios. In contrast, Berrios has made many MLB starts in his lengthy career. In fact, since the beginning of 2018, Berrios has made 215 starts — trailing only Aaron Nola for most in baseball in that span. While durable beyond belief, Berrios hasn’t exactly been reliable in 2025, entering play on Thursday in possession of a 5.11 xERA over 64.0 innings. That inflated figure is primarily due to the veteran RHP rocking a 9.6% walk rate — the highest of his career since his rookie campaign — and surrendering 1.41 opponent home runs per nine. Going back to the start of 2024, Berrios has actually given up more long balls than any other pitcher in MLB (41).
Athletics vs. Blue Jays pick, best bet
Best Bet: Under 8.5 (-102)
The Jays have six total runs in their last six games, while the Athletics have struggled on the road. The team owns a 117 wRC+ at Sutter Health Park and that drops to a 102 wRC+ away from Sacramento.
Strong Lean: Jose Berrios Over 18.5 Outs Recorded (+125)
Toronto relievers have thrown 13.0 innings the last two days and there’s another bullpen game scheduled for Saturday. They’ll need Berrios to eat innings tonight — and he’s more than capable.
