Here come the Boston Red Sox! They had a bit of a World Series hangover to start the year but are playing to expectations now and look to win their second straight game at AL East rival Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. Boston is favored on the MLB betting lines.
How to Bet Red Sox vs Blue Jays MLB Odds & Game Info
- When: Tuesday, 7:07 PM ET
- Where: Rogers Centre
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Eduardo Rodriguez/Marcus Stroman
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: Blue Jays Radio Network
- MLB Odds: Boston Red Sox -160 (Total 9)
Why Bet on Boston?
The Sox routed the Jays in Monday’s opener, 12-2. Xander Bogaerts went 3-for-5 with a homer, three RBIs, and three runs scored. He hit a two-run single in the top of the third inning and a solo home run in the top of the ninth. The 26-year-old shortstop is slashing .285/.380/.500 with eight homers, 31 RBIs, and 34 runs scored this season.
Rafael Devers finished 3-for-5 with a homer, three RBIs, a stolen base, and two runs scored in the win. Devers opened the game’s scoring with an RBI single in the top of the first inning, then added another RBI single in the top of the seventh before going deep in back-to-back fashion with Bogaerts in the top of the ninth. Devers is batting .314 this season but only has four homers.
Red Sox DH JD Martinez didn’t play Monday but it was simply for rest and he should be back in there Tuesday.
It’s lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2, 4.89) on the mound Tuesday. Rodriguez allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk, striking out 10 and taking a no-decision after pitching six-plus innings in last Wednesday’s 6-5 win over the Rockies. Rodriguez got into trouble to start the seventh inning, and Matt Barnes was unable to stop the bleeding as the Rockies rallied to tie the game.
In 12 career appearances against the Blue Jays, Rodriguez is 3-3 with a 4.34 ERA.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.32
- Hits: 8.79
- Walks: 4.19
- Strike Outs: 7.85
Defense
- Runs: 4.64
- Hits: 7.83
- Walks: 3.30
- Strike Outs: 9.98
Why Bet on Toronto?
The Jays’ only runs Monday were via a Luke Maile two-run shot. Maile’s drive to left-center off David Price in the bottom of the second inning was the only real highlight for the Jays.
Second baseman Eric Sogard was scratched from the Blue Jays’ lineup Monday due to a left thumb sprain. Sogard suffered the thumb sprain while diving back into first base on Sunday afternoon against the White Sox and is considered day-to-day for now. He has an impressive .295/.392/.511 batting line with four home runs and three stolen bases in 24 games this season.
Star rookie third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got Monday off. He went 2-for-4 and slugged his fourth career home run in Sunday’s series finale against the White Sox. Guerrero was named AL Player of the Week on Monday, becoming the youngest Blue Jays player to ever win it. During last week, he hit .333 with four home runs and had a .905 slugging percentage over six games. That brings his season slash line to a respectable .235/.325/.441 with a total of 10 RBI.
It took Guerrero a couple of weeks to get going, but there were signs the whole time that the floodgates were a base hit or two away from opening. His two-homer, three-hit night last Tuesday in California did just that. Guerrero’s Hall of Fame father was named the league player of the week 10 times in his career, last in April 2007.
It’s Marcus Stroman (1-6, 2.95) on the mound. Stroman didn’t factor into the decision in last Thursday’s loss to the White Sox, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six. The right-hander now has six quality starts in 10 trips to the mound, a much more impressive number than his 1-6 record would indicate. Stroman has allowed more than three earned runs just twice this season.
Stroman’s 2.95 ERA is 9th in the AL. His FIP is about the same at 3.05. He has a 1.5 fWAR, putting him in a tie for 4th in the AL. Batters are hitting just .250/.307/.353 against him. As frustrating as the lack of run support must be, Stroman is keeping a brave face about the lagging run support.
“Not really to be honest,” said Stroman, who has had two runs or less of support for seven of his 10 starts. “It’s a long season. I know my guys are going to be there for me at some point. It’s just something we’re going through right now but hopefully, we get out of it.”
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 3.64
- Hits: 7.15
- Walks: 2.91
- Strike Outs: 9.17
Defense
- Runs: 4.38
- Hits: 7.85
- Walks: 3.62
- Strike Outs: 8.43
Red Sox vs Blue Jays MLB Betting Trends
- Red Sox are 13-3 in Rodriguez’s last 16 starts vs. American League East
- Blue Jays are 1-6 in Stroman’s last 7 starts during game 2 of a series
- Red Sox are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston’s last 7 games against an opponent in the American League East division
- Blue Jays are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto’s last 6 games this season
Expert Final Score Prediction for Red Sox vs Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox 4 – Toronto Blue Jays 3
