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Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox Betting Preview 05/28/18

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Blue Jays are paying a visit to Fenway Park to play their division rival Boston Red Sox. New England Sports Network will televise the action and the game gets going at 1:05 p.m. ET.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds

Toronto (+170) is entering this game as the underdog to Boston (-180) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 9.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at +100 for the under and -120 for the over. The game’s current runline odds sit at -130 for taking the Blue Jays +1.5 runs and +110 for the Red Sox -1.5.

The Blue Jays are 25-28 SU and have gone 27-25 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 5.2 units for moneyline bettors, despite having gained 0.1 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in two of those seven. The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 36-17 SU and 28-24 ATS. They’ve gained 12.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.5 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.

Neither squad has been an obvious over/under play this year. Boston games have a 24-26-2 over/under record so far in 2018. The Blue Jays have an over/under record of 22-22-8.

Aaron Sanchez is getting the start for the visiting Blue Jays. The right-handed Sanchez is 2-4 with a 4.07 ERA and 42 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with 12 strikeouts and a 3.27 ERA against Boston this year.

The Red Sox are putting the ball in the left hand of David Price (4-4, 4.08 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), who has 55 strikeouts and 22 walks. Price is 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA against Toronto this year.

Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 5.14 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 8.16 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.70, along with a K-per-9 of 9.00.

The Blue Jays offense has slashed .229/.311/.408 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).

Right fielder Kevin Pillar and third baseman Yangervis Solarte continue to lead Toronto’s hitters. Pillar is slashing .277/.319/.456 with four home runs, 21 RBIs, 26 runs and eight steals, while Solarte (.267/.330/.492) is up to 11 homers, 32 RBIs and 26 runs scored.

Pillar enjoyed batting against left-handed pitching on the road in 2017. Over 78 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .338/.397/.535 (compared to his total season line of .255/.300/.403).

In the home-team dugout, Boston’s pitchers have given up 3.8 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 3.84 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 3.18, a WHIP of 1.18 and a K/9 of 9.6. In 32 games against AL East foes, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 3.28 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.03.

The Boston hitters have produced 5.3 runs per outing, including 5.0 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .212/.309/.423 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.

The Red Sox batters have been led by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. Betts is slashing .359/.437/.750 with 17 home runs, 37 RBIs, 52 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Martinez’s line is .320/.377/.639 with 16 homers, 42 RBIs and 33 runs.

Martinez performed well at home last year. Across 253 plate appearances, he slashed .355/.439/.820 (compared to his total season line of .303/.376/.690).

The Blue Jays have lost 4.3 units and are 12-8 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in six of those games, compared to 10 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Red Sox have netted 14.3 units and are 24-16 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 18 of those games, as opposed to 20 which went under the total.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox Free Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER

Click Here to Start Betting Today!

Notes

Betting Notes

Boston has recorded 20.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.6 over its last five.

The Blue Jays have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.

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Written by GMS Previews

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