Toronto Blue Jays Host Sacramento Athletics in Sunday Matchup

Odds Favor Blue Jays at Home as Pitchers Lauer and Morales Face Off

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Toronto Blue Jays (94-68 last season) will host the Sacramento Athletics (76-86) on Sunday at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays are favored at -160 on the moneyline, with the over/under set at 8 runs. The expected starting pitchers are Eric Lauer for Toronto and Luis Morales for Sacramento.

Why it matters

This early-season matchup between the Blue Jays and Athletics features two teams with different expectations heading into the 2026 campaign. Toronto is looking to build on a strong 2025 season and contend for the playoffs, while Sacramento is hoping to bounce back from a sub-.500 record.

The details

The Athletics had a productive offensive season in 2025, hitting 219 home runs and averaging 4.5 runs per game. However, their pitching staff struggled with a 4.70 team ERA. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, had a balanced attack, hitting .265 as a team while also posting a 4.18 team ERA. Lauer and Morales will look to set the tone for their respective clubs on the mound in this series opener.

  • The game will be played on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
  • First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 PM ET.

The players

Eric Lauer

A 45-39 career pitcher for the Blue Jays with a 4.14 ERA and 2.61 K/BB ratio.

Luis Morales

A 4-3 career pitcher for the Athletics with a 3.17 ERA and 1.162 WHIP.

Toronto Blue Jays

A 94-68 team in 2025 that finished 4th in MLB in runs scored and 19th in team ERA.

Sacramento Athletics

A 76-86 team in 2025 that finished 12th in MLB in runs scored and 27th in team ERA.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is an important early-season series for both clubs as they look to establish themselves in the standings.”

— Parlay's Pundit, Sports Betting Analyst

What’s next

The teams will play the second game of their three-game series on Monday, March 30th at Rogers Centre.

The takeaway

This matchup features two teams heading in different directions, with the Blue Jays looking to build on their 2025 success and the Athletics hoping to bounce back. The pitching duel between Lauer and Morales should set the tone for the series.