Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox: Odds, Prediction
The Blue Jays make their first visit of the season to historic Fenway Park in Boston on Monday as they open a four-game series with the Red Sox.
Boston is a -135 favourite on the MLB odds for the opener behind young right-hander Richard Fitts.
Betting Analysis
One could argue that no team east of the Los Angeles Dodgers had a better offseason than the Boston Red Sox. The team had missed the playoffs each of the past three seasons – failing to record a winning record in any – after reaching the 2021 ALCS. A big part of that was ownership not willing to spend like a big-market team, and Boston is certainly that. It also sells out Fenway Park nightly.
The fanbase was getting restless so the owners did spend this offseason, which facilitated a trade for young Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet and then signed him to a big recent big extension as well as winning the free-agent bidding for ex-Houston Astros All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman. The Red Sox are ready to contend again and one could argue might be the best all-around team in the AL East after the Yankees lost ace Gerrit Cole to a season-ending injury.
Boston was 8-5 vs. Toronto last season, but the Blue Jays were 4-3 at Fenway Park. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit .340 with a homer and 12 RBIs in the season series. George Springer had three homers and two doubles. Jaren Duran hit .328 with four homers and seven RBIs for the Red Sox, while Rafael Devers was at .300 with three home runs and five knocked in.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto entered its weekend series at the Mets on a four-game winning streak and promptly was swept three games and outscored a combined 10-3. Alejandro Kirk was about the only bright spot in Sunday’s 2-1 loss with two of his team’s four hits. George Springer was not in the starting lineup after a collision with the wall on Saturday, but he did pinch-run. Hitting with runners in scoring position was a problem in 2024 and has been one in the early going with the Jays hitting just .231 and slugging .286 with RISP after going 0-for-8 Sunday.
Journeyman lefty Easton Lucas will get the start Monday on the mound. The 26-year-old’s first career MLB start in his 15th appearance was last Wednesday vs. Washington in place of an injured Max Scherzer. Lucas allowed just one hit over five scoreless in the victory. He made one relief appearance vs. Boston in 2024, allowing two runs over 1.2 innings of a no-decision. The under is 7-0 in the Jays’ past seven games.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are at a disadvantage in they had to play a home doubleheader against St. Louis on Sunday due to Saturday’s game being rained out – but Boston swept the DH, including scoring 18 runs on Sunday night behind six RBI from big free-agent addition Alex Bregman. The bullpen is a little taxed entering Monday now.
Second-year right-hander Richard Fitts (0-1, 4.50 ERA) was to originally start Saturday vs. the Cardinals but will now get the call for this one. Fitts took the loss in Texas on March 30 in his season debut, allowing three runs over six innings. Last year in a brief call-up late in the season, Fitts faced the Jays in Toronto and gave up four runs and six hits over five innings of a loss. Alejandro Kirk was 2-for-3 off him with a double and three RBIs. Fitts is still looking for that first career MLB victory. The under is 12-6 in Boston’s past 18 vs. the AL East.
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