Free MLB Picks Today: Toronto Blue Jays vs Oakland Athletics 6/23/23

The Oakland Athletics (19-58) take their lightest-hitting offense in the league on the road to face the Toronto Blue Jays (41-35) at Rogers Centre on Friday for the opener of a three-game series.

The Athletics are in the midst of a six-game road trip. They are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Guardians, dropping the finale 6-1 on Thursday at Progressive Field for their eighth straight loss.

The Blue Jays are playing the first of nine games at home after finishing up a nine-game road trip (4-5). They won two of three against the Marlins in their last series, taking the finale 6-3 on Wednesday at loanDepot Park.

Matt Chapman went 2 for 3 with a home run and a double. He scored two runs. The teams are meeting for the first time this season. In 2022, the teams split their six games (3-3), although the Athletics won two out of three in their most recent meeting at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in July.

ON THE MOUND

James Kaprielian (2-6, 6.38 ERA) is set for the start for Oakland. The righty allowed one run over 5.1 innings in his last start, a 3-2 road defeat against the Phillies on Saturday. He yielded five hits while striking out six in the no-decision.

Kaprielian made one start against the Blue Jays in 2022, a 2-1 home loss on July 6. He surrendered one run on five hits over six innings, striking out one and walking four.

Righty Chris Bassitt (7-5, 4.16 ERA) will toe the rubber for Toronto. Bassitt made one start against the Athletics in 2022, throwing eight innings for the Mets in a 9-2 road win on September 23. He gave up six hits and walked one while striking out two in the win.

In his last start on Sunday, Bassitt took a no-decision on the road against the Rangers. He threw 3.2 innings and gave up five runs (3 ER) on seven hits, striking out two and walking three in the 11-7 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

The Oakland offense is averaging 3.5 runs per game for the season, the lowest in MLB, with a slash line of .222/.303/.352. Brent Rooker leads the team in OPS at .832. The left fielder is slashing .250/.350/.482 with 13 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 29 runs over 66 games.

Against righties like Bassitt this season, the A’s have a .643 OPS, the lowest in the league. Ryan Noda is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .832 OPS in 185 at-bats.

Toronto is slashing .262/.329/.415 for the season and averaging 4.4 runs per game. Bo Bichette leads the team with a .852 OPS. The shortstop has 14 home runs, 46 RBIs, and 38 runs scored with a slash line of .317/.347/.505.

Toronto is averaging only 3.4 runs per game in the last five with their slash line dropping across the board (.254/.296/.337). The Jays have a .753 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .843 OPS over 143 at-bats, Brandon Belt has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Oakland is on a three-game losing streak on the road, bringing their record to 10-29 in 2023. The A’s have scored 4.0 runs per game away from home while allowing 6.6 runs.

Toronto has gone 19-13 at Rogers Centre this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 3.8. Toronto is 8-2 in the last 10 games at Rogers Centre between the teams with an average scoreline of 6.0-4.5.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Athletics are fifth in the AL West, 28 games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Blue Jays are fourth in the AL East, 10 games behind the Rays.