Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox Betting Preview
AL East rivals will clash on Friday as the Toronto Blue Jays (50-43) take on the Boston Red Sox (48-45). The Red Sox will host this one at Fenway Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 pm ET.
The Blue Jays sit third in the AL East, 13.5 games behind the New York Yankees. Having gone just .500 over their last ten games, the Blue Jays were able to pick up a series win over the Royals before the All-Star break, winning three of four.
Despite having a record above .500, the Red Sox sit in fourth in the AL East, 15.5 games back. They have slipped over their last ten games, though, as they have lost seven of them. They were clobbered by the Yankees in their last two games before the break as they were outscored 27-3.
Friday’s game is seen as a toss-up as both teams are -108 to win. Boston’s runline sits at +1.5 (-182), and the over/under for total runs is 8.5.
Blue Jays Still Have Postseason In Sight
Even though Toronto is 13.5 games back of the Yankees, the Blue Jays would still be in the playoffs if the season ended today via the Wild Card.
With their postseason aspirations still very much alive, the Blue Jays will look to get the second half started off right against their division rivals.
Taking the ball Friday in the opener is ace Kevin Gausman. In 17 games, the 31-year-old righty is 6-7 with a 2.87 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and has 106 strikeouts in 94 innings.
In his last three starts combined, Gausman has given up just two earned runs over 15 innings. In that span, he has given up 15 hits while striking out 19.
Offensively, keep an eye out for Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. against Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi; they have both had success. Biggio is hitting .286 with two home runs, while Gurriel is hitting .313 with two long balls.
Overall, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been Toronto’s best team. In 351 at bats, he is hitting .271/.346/.484 with 20 home runs, 57 runs batted in, and 51 runs scored.
Boston Trying To Play Catch Up
While the Blue Jays would be in the postseason if it started today, the Red Sox would be on the outside looking in. Sitting two games out of the last Wild Card spot, Boston will try to cut into that deficit starting Friday.
Nathan Eovaldi will take the ball for Alex Cora’s squad. In 13 games this season, he is 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and he has 76 strikeouts in 72.2 innings.
Eovaldi has won two of his last three starts, giving up just three runs over 15.1 innings. In that span, he has struck out 17 while allowing 16 hits.
Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez have had the most success against Gausman in their careers. Bogaerts is hitting .333 in 48 at bats with a home run and five runs batted in. Not to be outdone, Martinez is hitting .333 in 18 at bats with a home run and four runs batted in.
While he hasn’t had the same success against Gausman, Rafael Devers has been Boston’s best hitter this year. In 346 at bats, he is hitting .324/.379/.601 with a team-leading 22 home runs and 62 runs scored.
Take Toronto On The Road
This one is a tough one to call. Both of these teams are able to put up a crooked number offensively, and both have solid starters going.
While Toronto is just 1-8 in their last nine road games, they are an impressive 7-2 in their last nine against Boston.
With all that said, Boston comes in as the colder team while Toronto has a small advantage on the mound, with Kevin Gausman getting the start.
This one could go either way, reflective in the moneyline, but the best bet might be taking Toronto at -108 on the road.
