Drew Martin will only look to the Athletics, likely at plus money, in their series opener at Toronto. He highlighted Jacob Lopez’s dominant seven-inning, three-hit, one-run performance against the Phillies his last time out and noted that Lopez’s lone blemish came via a solo homer. The A’s offense has been scorching—top-five in MLB by wRC+ over the past week—while Toronto has dropped four of five and returns home after a road trip, a spot Martin dislikes. On the other side, Jose Berrios sports a 4.20 ERA, declining velocity, and four-or-fewer strikeouts in three straight starts. Those factors, coupled with reduced travel for Oakland (already halfway across the continent after playing in Houston), make the Athletics Martin’s preferred wager.

Scott Jenstad recommended tossing a few speculative bucks at Jacob Lopez after the rookie shredded Philadelphia for 8 strikeouts, 3 hits and 1 walk in his second MLB start. Jenstad noted Lopez carried a 28 % strike-out rate in Triple-A last season and still misses bats with a flat-plane four-seamer and plus changeup. Walks (career 10 % in the minors) are the red flag, and Jenstad warned that summer heat in the A’s temporary ballpark could add homer risk. Even so, with starting-pitching options thin, he views Lopez as a swing-and-miss lottery ticket worth rostering in 15-teamers and streaming in deeper 12-team leagues while the rotation spot is his.