Overview
- The Blue Jays opened a three-game series at Sutter Health Park on Monday with Toronto sitting 72-72 and one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League wild-card spot.
- Dylan Cease is the Blue Jays' Monday starter and has been talked about as a Cy Young contender after a 10-5 season with a 2.25 ERA and an 8-1 road record featuring a 1.54 ERA away from Toronto.
- Oakland counters with left-hander Jacob Lopez, who has posted a 2.36 ERA across roughly 49 2/3 innings since the All‑Star break and has allowed two or fewer runs in nine straight starts.
- Toronto's offense has sputtered at times this year, highlighted by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s drop in power with eight homers all on the road, and the club has adjusted its roster since the trade deadline including adding José Soriano and trading Daulton Varsho.
- Pre-game media and betting takes diverge: Fox favors the Blue Jays on the -1.5 run line because of Cease's dominance, while Deadspin leans UNDER 8.5, suggests Athletics +1.5 on the run line, and lists Cease over 7.5 strikeouts as a prop play.