Charlie Cummings previews Sunday’s MLB matchup between the Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays and provides his best pick.

This Athletics-Blue Jays series has been electric to start the 2026 MLB season. Two games, two walk-off wins for the Jays. What kind of excitement do they have for us in Sunday’s matinee contest?

First pitch is set for 1:37 p.m. ET. The Blue Jays are -163 moneyline favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. An Athletics upset is priced at +135. The game total is set at O/U 8.5 runs.

Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Athletics-Blue Jays game.

Athletics vs. Blue Jays Preview

First things first, let’s meet the starting pitchers for this matchup.

Luis Morales is back in the A’s rotation after a promising 2025 debut. Armed with a big-time fastball that he uses for over half of his pitches, Morales pitched to a 3.14 ERA across 48.2 innings as a 22-year-old rookie. The hope is that he can continue his development and become a fixture in the Athletics’ rotation for years to come. But, first things first, he has to get off to a good start against the reigning American League champs.

Opposite him is the wily veteran Eric Lauer. The 30-year-old was a valuable swingman for the Blue Jays last season, making 15 starts and coming out of the bullpen 13 times. Despite his lack of high-end stuff, his command did him plenty of favors, and he missed just enough barrels to stay effective. With the Jays dealing with injuries to Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage and Jose Berrios, they’ll ask Lauer to hold down the fort until they can get healthy.

These lineups can certainly produce some fireworks. The top of the A’s lineup is one of the best in the sport – Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker and Jacob Wilson can certainly produce and mesh well together. The rest of the lineup is a big question mark, but it’s one heck of a start as this team attempts to build a winner.

Toronto’s lineup was seventh in all of Major League Baseball with a 108 OPS+ last season, and they only got better this offseason. Adding Kazuma Okamoto, arguably the top talent coming from Japan this year, only increases the headaches Toronto induces for opposing pitchers. Adding him to a core of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer and Alejandro Kirk could vault them into the top five.

The bullpen is perhaps the biggest gap between these two squads. Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland are the bedrock of a solid Toronto bullpen that will be key to repeating last year’s success. The A’s pen is barren now that Mason Miller is gone, and they’re looking to figure out who can be dependable from that group.

Now that we know these teams better, who is going to bring home the win?

Athletics vs. Blue Jays Pick, Best Bet

I’m riding with these offenses. The starting pitchers have produced good results, but both of these guys can get knocked around by the right hitters. Neither bullpen has covered itself in glory so far. The Blue Jays will pull off the series sweep in another high-scoring affair.

Best Bet: Toronto Blue Jays Moneyline + Over 8.5 Total Runs SGP (+210)