Expert Picks & Props to Target in Athletics vs Blue Jays

• The Blue Jays are -156 moneyline favorites in tonight’s season opener vs the Athletics
• Toronto will give the ball to Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA in ’25), while the A’s will counter with Luis Severino (8-11, 4.54 ERA in ’25)
• My MLB expert picks and props to target in the Athletics vs Blue Jays matchup can be found below, along with the latest odds

The 2026 campaign finally gets underway tonight for the Blue Jays, as the reigning AL Champs host the Athletics. Online sportsbooks are siding with Toronto in the MLB odds, and if you’re willing to shop around you can get a pretty reasonable price on them to simply win.

I’ll be backing Vladdy Guerrero Jr. and Co. tonight in my Athletics vs Blue Jays expert picks, while zeroing in Toronto starter Kevin Gausman in the props market. Keep reading for all the reasons why those selections stand out, plus see the latest odds and how to watch.

Athletics vs Blue Jays Expert Picks

• Blue Jays Moneyline (-156 at Kalshi)

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The Blue Jays had one of the busier off-seasons, bolstering their starting rotation and bullpen, while adding another slugger to make up for the departure of Bo Bichette. Gausman starts the year as Toronto’s ace, and the combination of him and Dylan Cease as a 1-2 punch is devastating for opposing lineups. Gausman posted a robust 3.59 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP last year, and an impressive 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Athletics meanwhile, will counter with veteran right-hander Luis Severino, hoping to silence the crowd and steal an early upset. Severino pitched very well helping Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic, and is looking to bounce back from a shaky 2025 campaign. He carried a 4.58 ERA and a 1.303 WHIP, alongside a measly 6.8 K/9.

Severino wasn’t the only A’s pitcher to struggle last year, as the entire staff was highly vulnerable. They surrendered a total of 817 runs and sported a 4.70 collective ERA. Toronto’s dangerous bats should find plenty of run-scoring opportunities.

Speaking of those bats, they’re led by Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, with the ladder fresh off 32 home runs and an elite .959 OPS last season. Guerrero Jr., a MLB MVP odds contender, hit .292 with 23 homers and an .848 OPS.

Toronto boasts a highly disciplined lineup that rarely strikes out. They averaged less 7 K’s per game, forcing opposing pitchers to work relentlessly.

By contrast, the Athletics carry a distinctly all-or-nothing profile at the plate. That’s why I’m expecting major strikeout production from Gausman – more on that below. Give me the Blue Jays to get on the board with a victory in their first game of 2026.

Athletics vs Blue Jays Props to Target

• Kevin Gausman Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-135 at Bet365)

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Oakland batters struck out a staggering 1,406 times last year, averaging 8.68 punch outs per game. Gausman is a reliable workhorse, eating up 193.0 innings across 32 starts. That means we should expect a lengthy outing tonight, and based on career averages, he should be able to clear over 5.5 strikeouts in 5 or 6 innings.

He recorded 189 total strikeouts in 2025, showcasing excellent swing and miss stuff. Gausman ended the season with a stellar 2.79 ERA and an elite 0.99 WHIP down the stretch, clearing this strikeout total in five of his final seven regular season starts.

Athletics vs Blue Jays Odds

At the time of writing, the best place to bet the Blue Jays moneyline is at Kalshi. The prediction market is trading that line at the equivalent of -156 odds in traditional sports betting terms, which is 16 cents cheaper than FanDuel.

Total-wise, the over/under varies depending on where you look. If you want to bet the over, head to FanDuel who have an 8.5 run total listed. If you want to fade offense and bet the under, DraftKings is one of the few books that is hanging a 9 run total as of Friday afternoon.

Odds as of March 27. Make sure you use SBD’s exclusive DraftKings promo code to bet on MLB this weekend.

How to Watch Athletics vs Blue Jays

The first pitch for the Athletics vs Blue Jays contest is scheduled for 7:07 pm ET tonight, from Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. MLB.TV will handle broadcast duties outside of the Athletics region, while Sportsnet will provide coverage for Canadian viewers.