The Boston Red Sox are ready to face their division rival Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The action will get underway at 1:07 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to New England Sports Network.
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Vegas is listing Boston (-125) as the favorite over Toronto (+115). The total sits at 9.5 runs and bettors can take the over for -115 and the under for -105. Gamblers can also bet on the game’s runline with the odds standing at Red Sox -1.5 runs (+120) and Blue Jays 1.5 runs (-140).
The Blue Jays are 21-19 SU and 21-18 ATS. They’ve gained 2.1 units for moneyline bettors and 3.0 units against the spread (ATS). Toronto has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Red Sox are 27-12 SU and have gone 18-20 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 8.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in this young season, but have lost 3.1 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Blue Jays games have an over/under record of 17-17-5 thus far in 2018. The Red Sox have an over/under record of 19-18-1.
Southpaw Drew Pomeranz is projected to start for Boston. Pomeranz is 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA and 20 strikeouts. He has yet to face Toronto this year, but he did make four starts against the team in 2017, posting a 3-1 record with a 3.92 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
The Blue Jays will be sending righty Joe Biagini (0-1, 8.10 ERA) to the mound. Biagini has eight strikeouts and four walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 2.00. Biagini made two starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 0-2 record in 2017, posting a 0-2 record with a 7.53 ERA.
Boston’s pitching staff allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.49 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 9.81 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.76, along with a K/9 of 10.25.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .267/.331/.456 on its way to 5.5 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Boston’s offense has been led by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, who’ve collectively blasted 22 home runs. Betts is slashing .356/.435/.780 with 13 home runs, 27 RBIs, 41 runs and five stolen bases, while Martinez (.336/.385/.603) has produced nine homers, 30 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Martinez didn’t do as well hitting against right-handed pitchers on the road last year. Over 177 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .255/.299/.588 (compared to his total season line of .303/.376/.690).
For the home team, Toronto’s pitchers have yielded 4.7 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have a 5.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 2.80, a WHIP of 1.29 and a K/9 of 9.4. In 19 games against divisional opponents, Blue Jays starters have an ERA of 4.74 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.15.
The Toronto offense has produced 4.9 runs per outing, including 3.4 per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .211/.268/.380 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Blue Jays’ offense has been led by outfielders Kevin Pillar and Curtis Granderson. Pillar is hitting .316/.358/.533 with four home runs, 17 RBIs, 25 runs and eight steals, while Granderson’s line is .273/.440/.481 with three homers, 13 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .255/.300/.403, Pillar performed well against lefty pitching at home in 2017, slashing .333/.364/.583 over 77 such plate appearances.
The Red Sox have gained 8.7 units and are 15-14 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 16 of those games, as opposed to 12 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have netted 0.8 units and are 10-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in six of those games, as opposed to seven which went under the total.
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Toronto has recorded 19.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.0 over its last five.
The Red Sox have hit 19 home runs in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays have hit 14 over their last 10.
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