Blue Jays vs. Pirates (September 4): Will Pittsburgh be powerless to prevent a Toronto sweep?

After being swept at home by the Los Angeles Angels last weekend, the Toronto Blue Jays have responded about as well as they could have.

In a trip to Chicago during the week, they took two of three from the Cubs at Wrigley Field. And they have followed a successful trip to the Windy City by winning the first two of their series in Pittsburgh.

The Jays enter Sunday in the final AL wild-card spot, two games behind the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays. But with the Baltimore Orioles, who are a game and a half behind the Jays, eyeing a home sweep of the Oakland A’s, the AL’s worst team, Toronto needs to break out the brooms at PNC Park.

Toronto won the first two games with excellent pitching and will be looking to get a strong outing from Ross Stripling. Also, they will be aiming to flex their muscles a bit against Pirates starter JT Brubaker, who has been better than his numbers might indicate.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Toronto Blue Jays (72-59, 34-30 away, 3rd in the AL East) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (49-83, 26-38 home, 5th in the NL Central)
• Venue & Location: PNC Park (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
• Date: Sunday, September 4, 2022
• Game Time: 12:05 p.m. Eastern Time
• Toronto vs. Pittsburgh TV Info: Peacock

Blue Jays vs. Pirates Pitching Matchup

• Toronto: Ross Stripling (2022: 26 appearances – 18 starts, 6-4, 2.94 ERA)
• Pittsburgh: JT Brubaker (2022: 24 starts, 3-11, 4.39 ERA)

Blue Jays vs. Pirates Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from some of our other recommended sportsbooks may also appear in this article.

Moneyline

• Toronto Blue Jays -205
• Pittsburgh Pirates +172

Over/Under

• Over 8 (-106)
• Under 8 (-114)

Run Line

• Toronto Blue Jays -1.5 (-120)
• Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (+100)

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction and Picks

Blue Jays vs. Pirates Prediction: Toronto to win

Blue Jays vs. Pirates Picks: Toronto -1.5 (Best Value: -120 at BetOnline, BetUS & BetMGM) & Pittsburgh team total under 3 runs (Best Value: -110 at Bovada Sportsbook & BetOnline)

Toronto is tied for second (with the San Diego Padres) in one-run wins this season (26), but 24 of their 34 road wins this season (70.6 percent) have come by 2+ runs, including 11 of their 14 road wins since the All-Star break (78.6 percent).

So, the run line has a lot of value in this matchup. What Stripling is doing in his starting role only enhances the value there, and it also makes the team total under for the Pirates a strong choice.

Since moving back into the rotation early in June, Stripling has allowed more than two runs only twice in 13 starts and has posted a 2.33 ERA.

Entering this matchup, he is on a run of three consecutive quality starts, the first time he has done that since 2018.

Also, in a run that has seen them lose 33 of their last 44 games, the Pirates have scored three or fewer runs 27 times (61.4 percent).

More Toronto vs. Pittsburgh Content

• Blue Jays vs. Pirates Consensus Picks, Betting Stats & Trends (9/4)

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