Blue Jays vs. Athletics (July 6): A’s aim for first home sweep in 2022

This week has already brought some very interesting and surprising results on the diamond, including the Oakland Athletics taking the first two games of their series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Entering this week, the A’s had won just eight of their first 36 home games. But after putting up five runs against AL Cy Young Award hopeful Alek Manoah on Monday, they knocked Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi out of the game after only 2.1 innings last night on the way to wrapping up the series win and handing the Blue Jays their fifth straight loss.

After scoring five runs in back-to-back home games for the first time this season, the A’s will look to keep their offensive surge going this afternoon against Jose Berrios, who picked up a much-needed win in his last start but has been hit hard in his most recent road starts.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Oakland Athletics Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Toronto Blue Jays (44-38, 19-20 away, 4th in the AL East) vs. Oakland Athletics (28-55, 10-28 home, 5th in the AL West)
• Venue & Location: Oakland Coliseum (Oakland, California)
• Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022
• Game Time: 3:37 p.m. Eastern Time (12:37 p.m. local time)
• TV Broadcast/Streaming Info: MLB Network

Blue Jays vs. Athletics Pitching Matchup

• Toronto Blue Jays: Jose Berrios (2022: 16 starts, 6-4, 5.72 ERA)
• Oakland A’s: James Kaprielian (2022: 12 starts, 1-5, 5.43 ERA)

Blue Jays vs. Athletics Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also featur e odds from other top online sportsbooks that we have reviewed in-depth and recommend.

Moneyline

• Toronto Blue Jays -196
• Oakland A’s +164

Over/Under

• OVER 8 (-114)
• UNDER 8 (-106)

Run Line

• Toronto Blue Jays -1.5 (-122)
• Oakland A’s +1.5 (+102)

Will An A’s Starter Shut Down the Jays Yet Again?

Given that the A’s are last in the league in runs per game at home–their average of 2.53 runs per game at home is almost a full run less than the Kansas City Royals, who rank second worst at 3.46 runs per game, average–their little explosion of sorts this week is pretty noteworthy.

In fact, Monday was only the second time this season that Manoah had given up 4+ runs, with the other time coming against the Yankees, MLB’s best team record wise.

But equally as impressive is how Oakland’s pitching has stifled Toronto’s bats. In Monday’s 5-1 win, Cole Irvin allowed one run, four hits, and no walks in eight excellent innings. And in yesterday’s 5-3 win, starter Adrian Martinez (5 IP, 8 H, 3 R) and the A’s bullpen held the Blue Jays scoreless for the final five innings.

This is part of a pretty solid stretch overall for Oakland’s pitching. In their last 13 games, the A’s have given up more than three runs just three times. And in their last five games, they have allowed just nine runs.

Can Kaprielian continue those efforts with a strong start? He finally picked up his first win of the season in his last start, a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners this past Friday.

Along with being his first win of the season, it was his first quality start and first six-inning outing of the season as well. And it continued a recent uptick in form from Kaprielian, who allowed four or more runs in five of his first nine starts this season.

Last Three Starts for James Kaprielian

• vs. Seattle (June 21): 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), BB, 7 K
• at Kansas City (June 26): 5.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 2 K
• at Seattle (July 1): 6 IP, 3 H, R (ER), 2 BB, 4 K

In their current losing streak, the Blue Jays have been held to three or fewer runs four times. With the A’s looking pretty competent on the mound at the moment, another rough day at the plate could be in the cards.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Oakland Athletics Prediction and Best Bets

Blue Jays vs. Athletics Prediction: Athletics to win

Blue Jays vs. Athletics Best Bets: Athletics +1.5 (+102 at BetOnline) & Athletics ML (+165 at BetUS)

Getting swept on the road is far from ideal for the Blue Jays when they head to Seattle for four games against the streaking Mariners next, but with the offense backing up solid pitching, the A’s have positioned themselves well to break out the brooms today.

Berrios is unlikely to have as disastrous of an outing as in his previous two road starts, in which he allowed 14 runs and 17 hits–including five homers–in just 6.2 innings against the White Sox and Brewers. Then again, given that he has allowed five or more runs in five of his last seven road starts, he just might.

Either way, I like the A’s to generate enough offense again to back up another good performance on the mound and get the sweep.

The Blue Jays have one of the league’s better records following a loss (23-14, .622, seventh-best in MLB), but the form that they are in at the moment is too discouraging to back them here.

Other MLB Content Today on Betting News (Wednesday, July 6)

• Guardians vs. Tigers Prediction & Best Bets (7/6)
• Twins vs. White Sox Prediction & Best Bets (7/6)