Toronto Blue Jays vs
Boston Red SoxPredictions & Preview

Blue Jays Set as Favorites in AL East Showdown Against Red Sox, Boasting Strong Track Record Against Right-Handed Pitchers

This preview focuses on the upcoming AL East showdown between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, MA on Saturday. The Blue Jays have had success against the Red Sox in previous matchups this season, winning both series. Starting pitchers for the game will be Chris Bassitt for the Blue Jays and Lucas Giolito for the Red Sox. Toronto enters the game as -125 moneyline favorites with a total of 9.0 runs. The betting line has remained steady with Toronto as the favorite at -127.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Blue Jays -127 | Red Sox +114
• Spread: Blue Jays -1.5 (+126) | Red Sox +1.5 (-146)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Toronto will win straight-up is 56%.

Toronto vs Boston Stats

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have had a mixed performance recently, with a 5-7 record in their last 12 games. They have won series against the Diamondbacks and Guardians, but lost to the Phillies and White Sox. Currently, they are three games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees and hold the second wild card spot. The Blue Jays rank 14th in runs scored and 18th in runs allowed in the majors. Their bullpen has been performing well with a 3.63 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over the last 10 days. Chris Bassitt is set to pitch against the Red Sox with a 7-3 record and a 3.61 ERA this season. Toronto is ranked 19th in power rankings, 14th in offense, and 20th in defense, with a 43-37 record for the season.

Boston Red Sox Analysis

The Boston Red Sox are aiming to halt a five-game losing streak after recent losses to the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels. They currently trail the Blue Jays by four games and are behind in the race for the final wild card spot in the American League. The Red Sox rank ninth in the MLB for runs scored and 23rd for runs allowed. Their bullpen has shown promise in recent outings, with solid numbers in ERA, WHIP, and batting average against. Lucas Giolito is set to start on Saturday, boasting a 3-1 record this season. In his career, Giolito has a mixed record against the Blue Jays, including a recent no-decision. Despite challenges, the Red Sox maintain a power ranking of 18 and are strong offensively, averaging 4.65 runs per game. Despite their recent struggles, they have shown potential for a comeback against Toronto.

Blue Jays Favored Over Red Sox with Strong Track Record Against Right-Handed Pitchers

In the past 10 days, the Red Sox have struggled against right-handed pitchers, posting a .546 OPS and 49 wRC+. Conversely, the Blue Jays have excelled with a .768 OPS and 119 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers during the same period. Based on this data, I am leaning towards Toronto winning this game. The Blue Jays have a favorable track record against Lucas Giolito, who recently allowed four runs (two earned) in a no-decision against San Francisco. On the other hand, Chris Bassitt had a strong performance with just one earned run on three hits in his last outing against the White Sox. Bassitt has been effective in limiting home runs, having only allowed one in his last four starts, and the current Red Sox lineup has not hit any home runs against him in 85 at-bats.

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