Toronto returns to Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento for a 3:05 p.m. ET first pitch Wednesday afternoon, looking to finish the series with a second straight win after Tuesday’s 4-2 victory. The Blue Jays have the better overall record and pitching profile, while Oakland will rely on another bullpen-heavy setup with Brady Basso serving as the opener. Toronto’s own pitching plan is also unconventional, with Braydon Fisher expected to open before the Blue Jays turn to their bullpen.
Blue Jays vs. Athletics prediction
Blue Jays moneyline: -185 @ bet365
Blue Jays moneyline
Neither team is getting a conventional starting pitcher for this matchup, but Toronto still enters with the stronger overall pitching foundation. The Blue Jays own a 3.93 team ERA and 1.30 WHIP compared with Oakland’s 5.40 ERA and 1.49 WHIP.
Braydon Fisher brings a 3-4 record, 3.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts into Wednesday after 70.1 innings, while Brady Basso checks in with a 4.32 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts across 33.1 innings.
Fisher is expected to work as an opener before Toronto goes to its bullpen, while Basso is making his fifth start of the season and has not previously faced the Blue Jays. Basso did throw three scoreless innings against Seattle in his most recent appearance, but Oakland’s bullpen will still be asked to cover substantial innings.
Toronto also enters with momentum after Tuesday’s 4-2 win, when José Soriano worked seven innings and Kazuma Okamoto and Josh Smith both homered. Okamoto’s blast was his 30th of the season.
Blue Jays vs. Athletics odds
| Blue Jays moneyline odds | -185 |
| Athletics moneyline odds | +155 |
| Run line odds | Blue Jays -1.5 (-115), Athletics +1.5 (-105) |
| Game total | Over 9.5 runs (+100), Under 9.5 runs (-120) |
| Date/time | Sept. 9, 3:05 p.m. ET |
Betting the Blue Jays 73-73, 72-74 ATS, 74-70-2 o/u)
Toronto enters the finale at 73-73 after Tuesday’s 4-2 victory, which evened the series at one game apiece. The Blue Jays have now won two of their last three games after opening the series with Monday’s 6-5 walk-off loss.
The Tuesday response was exactly what Toronto needed. Soriano delivered seven innings of two-run baseball, while Okamoto and Josh Smith provided early home runs and the lineup collected 11 hits. Toronto also avoided the defensive and baserunning mistakes that contributed to Monday’s loss.
The biggest concern Wednesday is workload. Fisher is expected to open rather than provide traditional starter length, and he has not pitched more than two innings in an appearance since August. Still, Toronto’s bullpen has more reliable options than Oakland’s overall pitching staff, making the Blue Jays the preferred side at the moneyline.
Toronto is also one game behind Cleveland for the American League’s final wild-card position, adding importance to Wednesday’s finale.
Betting the Athletics 58-88 SU, 71-75 ATS, 75-69-2 o/u)
Oakland is now 58-88 after splitting the first two games of this series. The Athletics opened the set with a 6-5 walk-off win before Toronto answered with Tuesday’s 4-2 victory.
Oakland’s offense remains the team’s biggest advantage, but its pitching continues to be the concern. The Athletics have a 5.40 team ERA and 1.49 WHIP, while their pitching staff has allowed opponents to hit .268
Basso has been useful in a relief role and threw three scoreless innings against Seattle in his most recent outing, but Wednesday marks his fifth start of the season. He has only 33.1 innings on the year, meaning Oakland will again have to navigate a game without a conventional starter capable of working deep into the afternoon.
The Athletics’ best path is to get early production against Fisher and Toronto’s middle relief while using their speed to create pressure. That formula worked Monday, but Toronto’s cleaner performance Tuesday makes it harder to trust Oakland at home.
Probable starting pitchers
Toronto: RHP Braydon Fisher (3-4, 3.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 8.7 K/9)
The opener role is unusual because Fisher has made 69 appearances this season but has rarely been asked to work multiple innings. He has not pitched more than two innings since August 9, so Toronto will almost certainly turn to its bullpen relatively early.
Fisher has struggled historically against Oakland, carrying a 9.64 ERA over five career appearances against the Athletics, although he has thrown 2.1 hitless innings against them in two outings this season.
Athletics: LHP Brady Basso (1-2, 4.32 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 6.5 K/9)
Basso will serve as Oakland’s opener for the fifth time this season. He owns a 4.32 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 33.1 innings, with 24 strikeouts and only five walks.
Basso has never faced Toronto in 40 career appearances, so Wednesday will provide his first look at a Blue Jays lineup that just scored four runs against Oakland’s pitching staff Tuesday.
Notable injuries
The following notable players are unavailable for Toronto:
- OF Addison Barger (elbow)
- P José Berríos (elbow)
- P Bowden Francis (shoulder)
- OF Anthony Santander (shoulder)
- P Trey Yesavage (knee)
- P Patrick Corbin (shoulder)
- P Shane Bieber (shoulder)
- P Jameson Taillon (elbow)
- P Yimi Garcia (elbow)
The following notable players are unavailable for the Athletics:
- DH Brent Rooker (shoulder)
- P Luis Severino (shoulder)
- OF Tyler Soderstrom (hip)
- 1B Nick Kurtz (thumb)
- C Shea Langeliers (knee)
- SS Jacob Wilson (shoulder)
Weather
Forecasts near first pitch call for mostly sunny skies and a temperature around 32 C in West Sacramento. Winds should be around 7 mph, blowing in toward right field, with no precipitation expected.
Blue Jays vs. Athletics betting trends
- The Athletics have the F5 team total under in 16 of their last 24 home games.
- The Blue Jays have won 25 of their last 40 games.
- The Blue Jays have covered the F5 run line in 12 of their last 18 road games.
- The Athletics have hit the team total under in 30 of their last 50 games at home.
Blue Jays vs. Athletics player prop trends
- Henry Bolte has hit safely in four straight games an eight of his last 10. He’s -210 to get a hit.
- Okamoto has homered in back-to-back to games and in four of his last 10. He’s +365 to go deep in a third straight contest.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has struck out in four straight games and in five of his last six. He’s -108 to strike out at least once.
