Toronto Blue Jays vs Athletics Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 3/27/26, 3:43 PM  by Travis Pulver | Modified on 4/17/26 at 5:35 AM in MLB Picks

The Athletics and Blue Jays will open their 2026 MLB season tonight when Toronto hosts the A’s at the Rogers Centre. The first pitch for this AL battle is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. EST. Fans can follow the action once the game gets underway on MLB.TV.

The A’s have been steadily improving over the last three seasons. If they take another step forward this year, it would not be shocking to see them in the midst of the playoff hunt this season. With a lineup led by up-and-coming players like Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Tyler Soderstrom, their bats will keep them in the game against most teams. What could hold them back, however, is their pitching staff. They don’t have a dominant No. 1 pitcher in the rotation. Today’s starter, Luyis Severino, has had ace-quality starts in the past, but has become wildly inconsistent (8-11with a 4.54 ERA in 2025).

As for the Blue Jays, Toronto won 94 games last season and held a 3-2 lead over the Dodgers in the World Series before losing the last two games. The lineup will miss Bo Bichette, but still has Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, and added Jesus Sanchez and Kazuma Okamoto. Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease are two pieces of an overall solid rotation that will get even better once Jose Berrios and Shane Bieber return from injury.

Gausman (10-11 with a 3.59 ERA in 2025) is slated to start tonight for the Blue Jays against Luis Severino for the A’s (8-11 with a 4.54 ERA in 2025).