The Toronto Blue Jays will play host to their division rival Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre. New England Sports Network will be showing the matchup and the game gets underway at 7:07 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Boston (-120) is entering this game as the favorite over Toronto (+110) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds coming in at Red Sox -1.5 runs (+125) and Blue Jays 1.5 runs (-145).
The Red Sox are 17-4 SU and have gone 12-9 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 12.1 units for moneyline bettors over the early part of the year and 3.8 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are 13-8 SU and 12-9 ATS. The team’s gained 4.8 units for moneyline bettors and 3.3 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven.
Blue Jays games have a 9-10-2 over/under record so far in 2018. The Red Sox have an over/under record of 12-8-1.
The right-handed Rick Porcello is the probable starter for the visiting Red Sox. Porcello is 4-0 with a 1.40 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He has yet to face Toronto this year, but he did make four starts against the Blue Jays in 2017, putting together a 2-2 record against them with a 4.74 ERA and 23 strikeouts.
The Blue Jays will put the ball in the left hand of J.A. Happ (3-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.27 WHIP), who has 31 strikeouts and seven walks this season. Happ made four starts against the team in 2017, compiling a perfect 2-0 record in 2017, posting a perfect 2-0 record with a 1.90 ERA and 16 strikeouts.
Toronto’s pitchers have given up 4.2 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have a 5.23 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.12, a WHIP of 1.19 and a K/9 of 8.9. In 11 games against AL East foes, Blue Jays starters have an ERA of 5.37 and the bullpen’s ERA is 1.64.
The Toronto offense has put up 5.5 runs per contest, including 3.6 per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .222/.335/.380 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Third baseman Yangervis Solarte and outfielder Curtis Granderson have paced the Blue Jays’ hitters so far. Solarte is hitting .250/.373/.515 with five home runs, 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Granderson is hitting .294 with 15 hits, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Granderson did not do particularly well at home last year. Across 224 plate appearances, he slashed .178/.290/.330 (compared to his total season line of .212/.323/.450).
For the visiting squad, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 2.9 runs per game and its starters own a 2.43 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 9.81 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.25, along with a K-per-9 of 9.52.
Red Sox hitters have slashed .277/.347/.467 on their way to 5.9 runs scored per game this season, including 6.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez have led Boston’s hitters. Betts is slashing .366/.459/.732 with six home runs, 14 RBIs and 23 runs scored, while Martinez is hitting .307/.333/.560 with four homers, 15 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Betts enjoyed hitting against left-handed pitching last season. Across 148 plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .306/.412/.516 (his total season line was .264/.344/.459).
The Red Sox have gained 0.5 units and are 1-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in one of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have netted 3.1 units and are 7-6 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in five of those games, compared to seven that went under the total.
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Red Sox have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays have hit 11 over their last 10.
Boston has recorded 26.9 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 games and 23.0 over its last five.
The Blue Jays have lost three of their last four games SU.
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