The AL East rival Red Sox and Blue Jays close a series in Toronto on Thursday afternoon. It’s a less-than-stellar projected pitching matchup as both teams may use fill-in guys in the getaway day game. The Red Sox will be solid MLB betting favorites.
How to Bet Red Sox at Blue Jays MLB Odds & TV Info
- When: Thursday, 12:37 PM ET
- Where: Rogers Centre
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Ryan Weber Or Hector Velazquez/Ryan Feierabend Or Clayton Richard
- TV: MLB Network
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: Sportsnet 590
- MLB Lines: Boston Red Sox -140 (Total 10.5)
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Why Bet on Boston?
During their current 14-6 stretch, which began on 4/29, the Red Sox lead the majors in runs scored per game (6.84) and OBP (.373).
Entering Wednesday, the Red Sox are 30-12 (.732) vs. Toronto since the start of 2017, going 10-1-2 in series in that time. The Sox are 14-4 (.824) in their last 18 games in Toronto. The Sox’s .567 winning percentage at Rogers Centre ranks 1st all-time among AL teams, including Toronto. (.543). Since the start of 2017, the Sox have stolen more bases vs. the Jays than any other team has stolen against any single opponent in that time (59-for-68, 86.8%).
This was scheduled to be Rick Porcello’s turn, but he was moved up to Wednesday. Thus, it should be either Ryan Weber or Hector Velazquez here. Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) is at least a couple weeks away from returning to the rotation, so Boston will be forced to use shaky options in that rotation spot in the short term. Eovaldi threw a successful 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. He threw his secondary pitches in this one for the first time since undergoing surgery in late April to remove a loose body from his right elbow.
Velazquez (1-3, 5.34) struggled Saturday, giving up five runs in the first inning and recording just one out against the Astros. His ERA increased to 5.34 in 14 outings (seven starts). He has a 4.38 FIP and 1.40 WHIP. Velazquez has a 6.41 ERA in 19.2 innings as a starter and is not fully stretched out, so he should not be expected to go deep enough to qualify for a win if he does end up taking the ball Thursday.
Weber (0-0, 1.13) has allowed just one run in 8 innings (three outings) since the Red Sox promoted him May 6 from Triple-A Pawtucket. He has given up eight hits and one walk while striking out seven. Weber had a 5.04 ERA and 18:5 K:BB in 25 innings as a starter at Triple-A this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.29
- Hits: 8.78
- Walks: 4.29
- Strike Outs: 7.92
Defense
- Runs: 4.76
- Hits: 7.96
- Walks: 3.33
- Strike Outs: 10.04
Why Bet on Toronto?
Rowdy Tellez smashed a pair of home runs and drove in five runs as the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox on Tuesday. Eduardo Rodriguez was the victim both times, as Tellez socked a two-run shot off of him in the fourth inning and a three-run blast off of him in the fifth. It was the first multi-homer game of the 24-year-old’s career.
Randal Grichuk hit his team-leading 8th home run to follow Tellez’s blast in the 4th inning for the Blue Jays’ 2nd set of back-to-back home runs this season. Grichuk had gone 8 games without an extra-base hit, tied for the 3rd longest streak of his career.
The team has placed reliever Ryan Tepera on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow impingement. Tepera continues to be bothered by discomfort in his right elbow and is off to see a specialist. This is his second IL stint of the year.
We think it will be Ryan Feierabend on the mound for the Jays, although the team may not have Feierabend start the next time his turn comes up Thursday against the Red Sox with Clayton Richard (knee) trending toward a return from the 10-day injured list this week.
When the Blue Jays required a new rotation member last weekend against the White Sox, the journeyman knuckleballer was a surprise choice to make a spot start. As one might expect from a pitcher who hadn’t appeared in the big leagues since 2014, Feierabend labored through his four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk in a losing effort.
Feierabend is merely keeping a seat warm for Richard, who tossed 48 pitches in his first rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Buffalo. Though Richard won’t be ready to assume a normal starter’s workload if deemed available Thursday, the Blue Jays may be comfortable with deploying him as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 3.80
- Hits: 7.31
- Walks: 2.96
- Strike Outs: 9.27
Defense
- Runs: 4.39
- Hits: 7.88
- Walks: 3.73
- Strike Outs: 8.47
Red Sox vs Blue Jays MLB Betting Trends
- Blue Jays are 3-7 in their last 10 during game 4 of a series
- Blue Jays are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the American League East division
- Red Sox are 12-5 in their last 17 Thursday games
- Red Sox are 16-4 SU in their last 20 games against Toronto
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto’s last 5 games against Boston
Expert Final Score Prediction for Red Sox vs Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox 7 – Toronto Blue Jays 5
