The Toronto Blue Jays travel to PNC Park on Monday night to meet the Pittsburgh Pirates. Toronto enters with a 73-52 record, while Pittsburgh sits at 52-73. First pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET.
This will be the first matchup between the teams this season. Kevin Gausman will start for Toronto, while Pittsburgh counters with Paul Skenes. Both teams come in with different trends as Toronto pushes for playoff positioning and Pittsburgh looks to break out of a recent slump.
Blue Jays Preview – Gausman Looks to Keep Rotation Steady
Kevin Gausman takes the ball for Toronto with an 8-9 record and a 3.79 ERA. He has pitched at least six innings in his last five starts and allowed two runs or fewer in four of them. His strikeout numbers remain solid, averaging nearly seven per start over that span.
The Blue Jays lineup continues to score at a steady pace, averaging 4.92 runs per game on the season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette remain key bats in the middle of the order. The team has won eight of its last 12 games and sits in strong position in the AL playoff race.
Toronto’s bullpen has been reliable, with a team ERA of 3.34 from the relief unit. Arms like Yimi Garcia, Nick Sandlin, and Brendon Little have handled key innings when called upon. That depth could be important against Pittsburgh if Gausman runs into trouble.
Pirates Preview – Skenes Seeks to Rebound
Paul Skenes gets the start for Pittsburgh with a 7-9 record and a 2.13 ERA. Despite strong season numbers, he has struggled in August, allowing four runs in two of his last three starts. His strikeout ability remains elite, but hitters have found more success against him in recent weeks.
The Pirates average just 3.51 runs per game, one of the lowest marks in baseball. Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen provide experience in the lineup, while Jack Suwinski adds power potential. Still, the team has dropped seven of its last eight games.
Pittsburgh’s bullpen has been up and down, with a 4.01 ERA overall. Relievers like Dennis Santana and Braxton Ashcraft have been reliable, but others have been inconsistent. Keeping the game close for Skenes will be a challenge against Toronto’s offense.
Betting Prediction
The Blue Jays come in as favorites on the road with Gausman facing Skenes. The total is set low at 7 runs, reflecting the strong pitching matchup. Toronto has hit the over often this season, while Pittsburgh trends toward the under.
Expect a low-scoring game early, but Toronto’s deeper lineup gives them the edge. A predicted score is Blue Jays 4, Pirates 2. The pick is Toronto to win and cover behind their steady rotation and more consistent bats.
Pick: Blue Jays -120
