In the wide-open American League, just about everyone remains in contention for a wild card spot. Well, almost every team; the Athletics (58-87) are running out the clock on another forgettable season. The same can’t be said for their opponents tonight, the Blue Jays (72-73). It’s been a disappointing campaign from the defending American League champions. Still, Toronto is just one game out from a playoff berth.
The Blue Jays are favorites (-186) over the Athletics; the over/under is set at 9.5 runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Tuesday’s showdown between Toronto and the A’s on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Blue Jays vs. Athletics pick, best bet today
- Blue Jays -1.5 (-114): Soriano is leagues better than Perkins on the mound. In addition, the Jays are finally beginning to look like a capable lineup over the past two weeks. Keeping that in mind, Toronto is set up nicely for a victory tonight.
Blue Jays vs. Athletics prediction, preview
As previously mentioned, Toronto has fallen well short of preseason expectations. With that being said, this group of battle-tested Blue Jays still has time to reverse course. That starts with taking care of business following Monday’s walk-off defeat vs. the A’s. Fortunately for Canada’s team, Jose Soriano will take the mound this evening. Acquired during August’s trade deadline, the former Angels hurler is one of the American League’s better arms. Over six starts with the Jays, he’s recorded a 4.36 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 24 strikeouts (6.5 K/9). Soriano’s best trait is an ability to keep the ball from elevating; his 91st percentile ground ball rate (52.3%) can make things difficult on opposing batters.
That skill is of added importance this evening at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. The Athletics have clubbed 98 long balls at home in Sacramento, sixth-most in the majors. With that being said, this group will be without some notable firepower on Tuesday. Brent Rooker (knee), Jacob Wilson (shoulder), Nick Kurtz (thumb), Shea Langeliers (knee) and Tyler Soderstrom (hip) are all on the injured list. Granted, the A’s have the ninth-best OPS at home vs. right-handed pitching (.765). However, that doesn’t make this depleted lineup insurmountable for opposing pitchers. Soriano has had success in this spot, allowing five earned runs over 11.2 innings against the Athletics this season (3.86 ERA).
Jack Perkins will head to the mound tonight, making his 14th start of the season. It’s been an uphill climb for the righty, having spent time in both the rotation and bullpen. Over 98.1 innings pitched, he’s on the hook for a ghastly 6.50 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 116 strikeouts (10.6 K/9). That includes an astonishingly bad 7.04 ERA when pitching in Sacramento. Perkins has coughed up at least five earned runs in three of his previous five appearances at home. That’s due in part to lackluster 9.5 H/9, 1.6 HR/9 and 3.6 BB/9 ratios.
In many ways, this is a battle between two polar opposites. While the Athletics are subpar on the mound, their opponents tonight struggle to generate offense. Toronto is averaging just 4.03 runs per game, fourth-worst in the majors. Perkins’ best trait as a starter is his ability to generate whiffs. However, that may be the only thing the Blue Jays do right on offense. They’re striking out just 7.16 times per game, the second-lowest mark in baseball. As an added bonus, Toronto has scored an American League-best 56 runs over its last ten contests.
Best Bet: Blue Jays -1.5 (-114)
Soriano is a solid arm, while Perkins might be the American League’s worst pitcher this season. That alone tilts the scale decisively in Toronto’s favor. Making things even more enticing for the visitors, the Athletics are without several of their best hitters. The Blue Jays, for all their flaws, excel when it comes to putting bat on ball and avoiding strikeouts. Those skills should propel this group to a comfortable win on Tuesday.
More MLB Content & Betting Picks
- Best MLB Parlays Today: Top Picks for Tuesday, September 8
- MLB Best Bets: Top home run props for Tuesday 9/8/26
Tail all of today’s MLB action in the DKN Betting Group here.
