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Skenes vs. Gausman Headlines Intriguing Interleague Clash
The Toronto Blue Jays travel to PNC Park on Monday to face the Pittsburgh Pirates in a pitching matchup featuring veteran Kevin Gausman against rising ace Paul Skenes.
Toronto (73-52) sits atop the AL East and continues to push for the league’s best record. Despite a 10-4 loss to Texas on Sunday, the Blue Jays have won six of their last ten games.
Beat the Line Before It Moves
We’ve done the research
Pittsburgh (52-73) has struggled mightily, losing seven of their last eight, but still has their young superstar Skenes (7-9, 2.13 ERA) on the mound as they look to play spoiler.
Match Information
- Sport: Baseball (MLB)
- Teams: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
- Date: Monday, August 18, 2025
- Start Time: 6:40 PM ET
- Broadcast: Local Networks
- Weather: Broken clouds, light breeze, warm evening
Betting Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Blue Jays Moneyline | +100 |
| Pirates Moneyline | -119 |
| Runline / Total | TBD |
The Blue Jays Can Win If…
Toronto’s elite offense can pressure Skenes early. The Jays lead MLB in batting average (.269) and on-base percentage (.336), with sluggers like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (HR in Sunday’s loss) and Alejandro Kirk adding pop.
Kevin Gausman (3.79 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) has quietly been steady, going at least six innings in five straight starts while limiting opponents to two runs or fewer in four of them. If Gausman can keep the Pirates’ bats quiet and Toronto’s lineup strings together extra-base hits (2nd in MLB with 226 doubles), the Blue Jays are in strong position.
The Pirates Can Win If…
Paul Skenes delivers a bounce-back performance. The 22-year-old phenom has looked mortal in August, giving up eight earned runs over his last two starts, but still owns a dominant 2.13 ERA and 0.96 WHIP overall.
Offensively, Bryan Reynolds (13 HR, 61 RBIs) and Joey Bart (two RBIs in their last game) must step up against Toronto’s pitching. Veteran Andrew McCutchen (11 HR) adds depth, but Pittsburgh’s bats rank in the bottom tier of MLB. They’ll need timely hits and strong support for Skenes to snap their skid.
Key Stats Comparison
| Category | Blue Jays | Pirates |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 73-52 (1st AL East) | 52-73 (5th NL Central) |
| Last 10 Games | 6-4 | 3-7 |
| Team Batting Avg | .269 (1st MLB) | .233 (25th MLB) |
| On-Base % | .336 (1st MLB) | .304 (24th MLB) |
| Team ERA | 3.92 (9th MLB) | 4.48 (18th MLB) |
The Lean
Toronto’s league-best lineup makes them appealing as a road underdog at +100, even against a future Cy Young contender like Skenes. The Pirates’ ace has been shaky this month, while Gausman has been consistent.
Model Projection: Blue Jays 4, Pirates 2
- Pick: Blue Jays (+100)
- Total Lean: Under 7.0 (if available)
For full coverage of every MLB result and betting recap, check out the MLB Game Results page on Scores and Stats.
