Oakland A’s vs Toronto Blue Jays Preview: Will Toronto’s Big Bats Tee Off on Generous Manaea?

A vital series in the American League opens tonight in Toronto as the Toronto Blue Jays host the Oakland A's. MLB betting odds at BetOnline Sportsbook have the hosts as a solid favorite as Alek Manoah takes the hill for the Blue Jays opposite the struggling Sean Manaea.

The A's enter today's action two games behind the Boston Red Sox for the second AL wild-card berth and 4.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West, while the Blue Jays are three back of the A's and five back of the Red Sox in the wild-card standings. With the Red Sox hosting the Cleveland Indians, the winner of this series may not gain much ground, if any. But falling further behind is not something either team wants to do with the home stretch rapidly approaching.

Who will take tonight's series opener in Toronto?

Oakland A's (74-60) vs Toronto Blue Jays (70-62), SportsNet, 7:00 p.m. ET

Probable Pitchers

• Oakland A's: Sean Manaea (8-9, 3.97 ERA)
• Toronto Blue Jays: Alek Manoah (5-2, 3.15 ERA)

Oakland A's vs Toronto Blue Jays MLB Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Oakland A's +136
• Toronto Blue Jays -162

Total

• OVER 9 (+100)
• UNDER 9 (-122)

Run Line

• Oakland A's +1.5 (-146)
• Toronto Blue Jays -1.5 (+122)

Oakland A's vs Toronto Blue Jays odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Friday, September 3, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. ET. Want to see betting odds from several top online sportsbooks for the day's other MLB matchups? Check out our MLB odds.

Oakland A's vs Toronto Blue Jays MLB Betting Consensus

Moneyline

• 25% Oakland A's
• 75% Toronto Blue Jays

Total (at O/U 9)

• 0% OVER
• 100% UNDER

Run Line (at +/-1.5)

• 75% Oakland A's
• 25% Toronto Blue Jays

Oakland A's vs Toronto Blue Jays Matchup: Betting Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Oakland A's vs Toronto Blue Jays Betting Outlook

The Blue Jays have gotten back on track after a stumble in August, but that 4-10 run put them in an unfavorable position. Toronto comes in with consecutive series wins and wins in four of their last five games. Those series wins may have been over the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles, but they were much needed.

The Jays will fancy their chances of continuing their little run tonight with Manoah on the mound. The towering rookie is 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA in six home starts, and the Blue Jays are 10-4 in the 14 games that he has started. Manoah has taken well to Toronto, going 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts since the Jays returned home in July.

That could spell trouble for the A's unless Manaea can turn over a new leaf in September after a terrible August. Last month, Manaea was 0-3 with a 9.90 ERA in five starts, and he managed to pitch five full innings in only one start. Even that start wasn't a good one, as he allowed three homers, seven hits, and seven runs against the Texas Rangers on August 15.

Speaking of the long ball, that area could especially spell trouble for Manaea against the homer-happy Blue Jays. Manaea has given up seven in his last three starts, and he has given up 14 long balls in his last 10 starts after allowing only eight in his first 16.

MLB Betting Trends to Consider for Oakland A's vs Toronto Blue Jays

• The Blue Jays are 49-38 as a favorite this season, while the A's are 19-25 as an underdog.
• The Blue Jays have been favored in all but one of their games at the Rogers Centre and are 14-6 in those games.
• In ten of those 14 wins, the Blue Jays covered the -1.5 run line.

Oakland A's vs Toronto Blue Jays Best Bets

Toronto Blue Jays -1.5

Toronto Blue Jays Team Total OVER 4.5

There is an element of risk here, as Manaea has been up and down throughout the season and is equally as capable of being brilliant as he is of being bad. But his recent friendliness with giving up homers does not play in his favor against the team that is second in the league in homers. Combine that with how well Manoah and the Blue Jays are performing in Toronto, and there is a lot of value in both of these bets.

If you don't feel like backing the run line, the moneyline is well worth backing if you don't mind the odds.