Toronto Blue Jays vs. Oakland Athletics Prediction, Picks and Preview – July 22, 2015

Despite a killer offense, the Toronto Blue Jays (48-47) are finding it difficult to reach the top of the American League East division. Of course, that’s largely because of their wretched run prevention unit, composed of starters with a collective ERA of 4.35. With the still shaky Felix Doubront on the mound later tonight, will the Blue Jays’ offense be there to inspire confidence on the team? Or will the Oakland A’s (43-52) level the series after suffering a 7-1 setback in the opener?

Read on for a detailed preview of this game. You can also click here for an overview of tonight’s matchup between the Pirates and the Royals.
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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Oakland Athletics Preview

Where: O.co Coliseum, Oakland

When: Tuesday, May 29, 2015, 10:05 PM ET

Line:  Toronto Blue Jays (+145) vs. Oakland Athletics (-160); total: 7.0 – view all MLB lines

Betting on the Toronto Blue Jays

[sc:MLB240banner ]It didn’t take Felix Doubront (1-0, 4.50 ERA) long to look like he truly belongs in the Blue Jays’ rotten pitching cast.

After picking up a win in his first start of the season (in which he tossed six plus innings of one-run ball to lead Toronto to a 2-1 victory over the light-hitting White Sox on July 7), Doubront got absolutely crushed in his next outing against Kansas City on July 12. Doubront was taken to the woodshed by the Royals, as he gave up five earned runs on 10 hits in only five innings of work in an 11-10 Toronto loss.

Even more frustrating was that Doubront’s ugly performance came at a time when the Blue Jays’ offense was firing on all cylinders. Doubront will look to get it together this time around, though, as he enters tonight’s contest at Oakland. Dating back to 2014, Doubront’s teams are 3-1 in his last four road starts.

It’s fair for Doubront to expect plenty of run support from his teammates again, as the Blue Jays are tops in the big leagues in runs per game (5.30) and run support per nine innings of work by their starters (5.83).

Doubront will be backed up by the bats of Jose Bautista and Jose Reyes, who’ve been great of late. Bautista continues to crush it at the plate, as the Blue Jays outfielder has already gone 4-for-15 (.267) since the All-Star break to go along with three homers and four RBIs. Bautista is also 4-for-6 (.667) with a homer and two RBIs in his career against Oakland ace, Sonny Gray. Reyes, meanwhile, is 5-for-15 (.333) with a double in four games since the midseason lull.

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Betting on the Oakland Athletics

Unfortunately for Sonny Gray (10-4, 2.29 ERA), his second-half campaign didn’t take off according to plan. After going 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last three starts of the first half, Gray was knocked around by Minnesota on July 17. The Twins tagged Gray for five runs on five hits (including two homers) in six innings, as Oakland fell to Minnesota, 5-0.

Making another start at home later tonight, Gray will have to pitch as if he’s on the road if he’s to stymie Toronto’s sluggers. So far this season, Gray is 3-3 with a 2.88 ERA in eight home starts. Those are decent figures, but not as solid as his 7-1 record and 1.84 ERA in 11 starts away from O.co Coliseum.

As for the offense, Oakland looks to get activity from the pair of Billy Butler and former Blue Jay Brett Lawrie. Butler, who is 2-for-8 (.250) in his career against Doubront, is batting 4-for-16 (.250) over his last four games. Lawrie, meanwhile, has a better read of Doubront’s stuff, as he is a .278 (5-for-18) lifetime hitter opposite the Blue Jays’ lefty.

Oakland is 7-3 in Gray’s last 10 starts overall.

Writer’s Prediction

Toronto (+145) wins, 4-3.
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