The Boston Red Sox are paying a visit to Toronto to face their divisional rival Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. New England Sports Network will be televising the matchup and the first pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Toronto (+110) is coming into this one as the underdog to Boston (-120) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this night game at 8.5 runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). Gamblers can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds sitting at +125 for the Red Sox -1.5 runs and -145 for the Blue Jays +1.5 runs.
The Blue Jays are 13-8 SU and 12-9 ATS. The team’s gained 4.8 units for moneyline bettors and 3.3 units against the spread (ATS). The Red Sox, on the other hand, have gone 17-4 SU this year and are 12-9 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 12.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline in the season’s early going and 3.8 units ATS.
Toronto games have an over/under record of 9-10-2 so far in 2018. Boston has an over/under record of 12-8-1.
The right-handed Rick Porcello is projected to start for Boston. 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, compiling a 2-2 record against them with a 4.74 ERA and 23 strikeouts.
The Blue Jays will turn to lefty J.A. Happ (3-1, 4.50 ERA) to the mound. Happ has 31 strikeouts and seven walks to his name, as well as a 1.27 WHIP. Happ made four starts against the team in 2017, putting together a perfect 2-0 record in 2017, compiling 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 season as a unit. The team’s starters have a 5.23 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.12, a WHIP of 1.19 and a K/9 of 8.9. In 11 divisional games, Blue Jays starters have an ERA of 5.37 and the bullpen’s ERA is 1.64.
The Toronto hitters have put up 5.5 runs per contest, including 3.6 per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .222/.335/.380 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Third baseman Yangervis Solarte and outfielder Curtis Granderson have paced the Blue Jays’ offense this year. Solarte is hitting .250/.373/.515 with five home runs, 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored, and Granderson’s line is .294/.410/.490 with 15 hits, nine RBIs and 10 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .212/.323/.450, Granderson didn’t do as well batting at home last year, hitting .178/.290/.330 across 224 plate appearances.
In the other dugout, Boston’s pitchers have 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 managed an ERA of 3.25, along with a WHIP of 1.09.
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 outings (3-2 SU).
Boston’s hitters have been led by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, who collectively have launched 10 home runs. Betts is hitting .366/.459/.732 with six home runs, 14 RBIs and 23 runs scored, while Martinez is slashing .307/.333/.560 with four homers, 15 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Putting up a slash line of .306/.412/.516 across 148 plate appearances, Betts performed well against lefty pitching last season (compared to his overall season slash line of .264/.344/.459).
The Red Sox have gained 0.5 units and are 1-2 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under in such games. 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.
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in four of Boston’s last seven games.
- The Blue Jays have lost three of their last four games SU.
- Toronto has posted 21.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 20.8 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays have hit 11 over their last 10.
