Blue Jays Try To Avoid Third Straight Series Loss To Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are 7-2 over their last nine games including a 4-1 record in five games against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox wrap up a four-game home series against the Blue Jays looking for a victory this Saturday night.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Red Sox opened as small favorites at -110 and the line has moved up just a touch to Boston -114. Toronto is going off as a +104 road underdog while the total has remained steady since Sportsbook at 10 runs. The UNDER is 5-1 in Toronto’s last six road games against Boston.

Starting Pitchers Analysis

Hyun Jin Ryu did not have his best stuff in his last outing against the New York Mets as he allowed 10 hits and three earned runs in only 4.1 innings pitched. Despite the underwhelming outing, the Blue Jays still won the game 10-3, improving to 5-1 over Ryu’s last six starts. The left-hander is 9-5 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 110 innings pitched this season.

Eduardo Rodriguez finished only one inning of his last start against the Boston Red Sox as he was forced to leave the game in the second inning due to migraine issues. Rodriguez returns to the mound on Thursday with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP on the season. Boston is 8-1 in the last nine games that Rodriguez has started.

Toronto News & Notes

After defeating the Red Sox 4-1 in the first game of Wednesday night’s doubleheader, the Blue Jays lost the second game of the doubleheader by the same score. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was limited to just two hits and one run with no RBI across Wednesday’s two games. The Blue Jays slugger has gone six games without a home run, but is still second in the majors with 32 behind only Shohei Ohtani’s 37 home runs.

Toronto has gone just 2-6 over its last eight games to fall to 50-48 on the season. The Jays enter Thursday’s action sitting 10.5 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East and 4.5 games out of a wild card spot. Friday’s MLB trade deadline looms large as the Blue Jays must decide if they want to buy, sell, or stay put.

Boston News & Notes

Rookie starting pitcher Tanner Houck allowed only two hits, one walk, and one earned run across four innings in Boston’s 4-1 win over the Jays on Wednesday. Houck sports a 1.62 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP through his first 39 innings pitched in the major leagues and could be a valuable asset for the Red Sox down the stretch. Boston could also bolster its pitching later this season with the return of veteran ace Chris Sale.

Rafael Devers has recorded three straight two-hit games against the Blue Jays and is batting .545 over that stretch with a run, two doubles, a home run and two RBI. The Red Sox offense is averaging 5.44 runs per game over the team’s current 7-2 run.

Betting Pick: Boston -114

This game could easily go either way with two outstanding offenses going up against two top-of-the-rotation starters. The lean is towards Boston however with how well the Red Sox are playing and their home field advantage.