A pair of postseason hopefuls are set to meet on Thursday in Atlanta. The Blue Jays (29-33) have struggled for most of 2026. Still, the reigning American League champs remain just 1.5 games out of a playoff spot. As for the Braves (42-20), it’s been a return to form for these perennial contenders. Can the NL East leaders secure a sweep at home this evening against Toronto?
The Braves are favorites (-245) over the Blue Jays, with the over/under set at 7.5 runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Thursday’s showdown between Toronto and Atlanta on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Blue Jays vs. Braves pick, best bet
Blue Jays vs. Braves prediction, preview
Toronto will go with a bullpen day in this one, handing the ball to reliever Mason Fluharty. Over 22.2 innings of work, the left-hander owns a 3.97 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 30 strikeouts (11.9 K/9). It remains to be seen who manager John Schneider will hand the ball to next. Rookie Chad Dallas was recently called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday; don’t be shocked if he gets some work tonight. As a unit, the Blue Jays own a respectable 3.93 bullpen ERA. That’s the sixth-best mark in the American League this season.
A date with the Braves is never easy for opposing pitchers. As a unit, they’ve notched the third-most runs (327) and second-most home runs (87) in baseball. With that being said, it’s not the worst time to face this juggernaut. After all, standout catcher Drake Baldwin (oblique) remains sidelined. Although several big bats remain in the lineup, that’s a big blow. To boot, there’s a good chance that Fluharty gets rolling to kick things off. Atlanta has been worse hitting against southpaws (.735 OPS) compared to right-handed pitching (.777 OPS).
Even if the bats aren’t at their best, the Braves have to like their chances tonight. That’s due to the presence of Chris Sale, still among the best pitchers on Earth. It’s been another fantastic season from the nine-time All-Star. Through 67.0 innings, he’s notched a 2.01 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 80 strikeouts (10.7 K/9). Sale has allowed two earned runs or less in ten of his 11 starts so far. The former Cy Young winner ranks within the top 91st percentile in chase rate (37.1%), strikeout rate (30.2%) and hard-hit rate (29.6%).
In comparison, the Blue Jays aren’t the most intimidating group at the plate. They’re only averaging 4.03 runs per game this season, eighth-fewest in baseball. The defending AL champs have scored 37 runs during their previous ten contests, sixth-fewest in the majors in that stretch. Toronto is 27th in hard hit rate (37.0%), 29th in xwOBA (.306), and 27th in barrel rate (6.6%). Sale has surrendered just one earned run and six hits combined over his last three meetings with the Jays (0.50 ERA).
Best Bets: Blue Jays under 2.5 total runs (+110)
There’s a chance Toronto’s bullpen can piece together a decent outing tonight. I have less confidence on offense, even if it wasn’t Sale on the bump. Against one of baseball’s elite arms, it’s difficult to buy into these struggling Blue Jays bats. At plus money, I’ll back Atlanta’s ace to deliver another gem on Thursday.
