The set-up: Toronto's Justin Smoak hit a two-run HR to tie last night's game at two-all and Kendrys Morales followed with a walk-off solo HR as the Blue Jays beat the A's 3-2. Oakland has now lost seven of its last nine games and at 44-57, can just about kiss its postseason chances goodbye (the A's are 9 1/2 games back of the AL's second wild spot). The 47-54 Blue Jays will need more dramatic wins to thrust themselves back into the postseason picture. After playing in the last two ALCS matchups, Toronto has never recovered from an 8-17 April. The Jays may be 6 1/2 games out of the final AL Wild card spot but seven teams are ahead of them.

The pitching matchup: Sean Manaea (8-5 & 3.82 ERA) will start for Oakland and Marcus Stroman (9-5 & 2.98 ERA) for Toronto. Manaea has been Oakland's most reliable starter in 2017. He is 7-2 with a 3.17 ERA over his past 12 starts (A's are 8-4), after opening 1-3 with a 5.52 ERA in his first six starts this season (A's were 1-5). This marks Manaea's second career start vs. Toronto (1-0 & 3.00 ERA). Stroman has pitched well all season for Toronto but his last two outings (July 17 & 22), kind of sum up Toronto's 2017 season. Stroman has allowed one ER over 14 1/3 innings (0.63 ERA and an opponents' batting average of .196) but has two no-decisions to show for it (Jays are 1-1). Stroman is 0-0 with a 4.63 ERA in two career starts against Oakland (Jays are 0-2).

The pick: Toronto is surely down but not quite out. However, the same can't said about the A's and Oakland is a poor 16-34 on the road YTD. No real reason to think the A's can avoid the four-game sweep here, as Oakland has lost 11 of its last 12 games at Rogers Centre. Make Toronto an 8* play.