The Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays meet up for the opening game of their series tonight in Major League Baseball action. The game is scheduled for a 7:07 p.m. start time and it will be televised on MLB.tv in addition to locally in both markets. Currently the Major League Baseball Odds for the game have the Athletics as a solid favorite in this game on the road.
A battle of first place teams in the American League takes place tonight in Toronto. The Blue Jays hold a 1-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East while the Oakland Athletics lead the American League West by 3.5 games over the Los Angeles Angels.
Oakland has 30 wins already this season, which is the most by any team so far this season. Both Oakland and Toronto have won eight of their last 10 games overall to help them capture first place.
Tonight Liam Hendricks will get the ball for Toronto. Hendricks struggled while a member of the Twins, sporting a record of 2-13 with a 6.06 ERA over the past three seasons. But since being picked up by the Blue Jays and spending time at Triple A, he went 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in nine appearances. In his career against Oakland, Hendricks hasn't won yet, going 0-1 with a 5.51 ERA in three games.
Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista has reached base in 48 of the team's 49 games dating back to last season. Bautista is hitting .297 this season with 12 home runs. Edwin Encarnacion has homered twice in two straight games and five of his last seven hits have left the ballpark.
Oakland starter Scott Kazmir has lost only once this season, going 5-1 with an ERA of 2.39 in his starts. Oakland, a major league best 18-7 on the road, has won eight of the last 11 meetings in Toronto.
Free Pick: Oakland 5, Toronto 4
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