Toronto makes its first visit of the season to the AL East-rival Boston Red Sox on Tuesday as the clubs open a three-game set with the Sox as -140 favourites on the MLB odds for the opener.

Betting Analysis

It’s the second road series of the young season for Toronto, which split four early last week at Yankee Stadium. Boston was 10-9 against the Blue Jays last season, and they split 10 at historic Fenway Park.

Sox backup catcher Kevin Plawecki but might have started multiple games in this series considering he hit .458 in 24 at-bats vs. Blue Jays pitching last year. However, Plawecki landed on the COVID list Monday after testing positive even though he’s vaccinated.

Alex Verdugo batted .344 with three homers and nine RBIs last year vs. Toronto, Rafael Devers .328 with three homers and seven RBIs, JD Martinez .319 with three homers and nine RBIs, and Bobby Dalbec .306 with three dingers and nine knocked in. Enrique Hernandez had four homers and 12 RBIs but hit .234. He’s batting just .163 this year.

Vladimir Guerrero terrorized Boston pitching in hitting .375 with seven homers and 18 RBIs. Bo Bichette batted .361 with four homers and 14 RBIs, and Teoscar Hernandez hit .338 with three homers and 20 RBIs, but he’s currently on the injured list.

Toronto Blue Jays

After taking two of three over the weekend at home vs. Oakland, the Jays are 2-0-1 in series play so far. Jordan Romano got the save Sunday, his MLB-best sixth. He has converted 29 consecutive save opportunities dating to last season, the longest streak in franchise history (was Tom Henke at 25 straight in 1991) and the longest active streak in the majors.

Vladimir Guerrero was 0-for-8 in the final two games of the Oakland series and is batting .289 with five homers and 10 RBIs. The Jays start free-agent acquisition and lefty Yusei Kikuchi here (0-1, 5.40). His Blue Jays debut wasn’t great, allowing three runs and five hits in a loss last Tuesday at the Yankees. In his lone 2021 start vs. Boston while with Seattle, he allowed five runs in 4.2 innings of a loss. Xander Bogaerts hits him well, going 3-for-6 with two homers. JD Martinez also has two dingers. The Jays are 7-2 in their past nine as road underdogs.

Boston Red Sox

While the Blue Jays were off Monday, the Sox had to play with an 11:10 a.m. ET first pitch on Patriots’ Day in Boston against the Twins, who won 8-3 to split the four-game set. The Red Sox are in a stretch during which they are scheduled to play a game on 17 consecutive days. The team’s big off-season acquisition, former Colorado Rockies All-Star shortstop Trevor Story, didn’t start Monday but should be back in there Tuesday. He plays second base for Boston, which has an excellent shortstop in Xander Bogaerts. He has an opt-out of his contract after this season and is going to take it.

The Sox couldn’t agree with him on a new long-term deal before this one started. Boston’s ace these days is hard-throwing right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 4.50). It’s his 2022 Fenway debut. Eovaldi has great control as he has issued two or fewer walks in his last 21 regular-season starts. Last year, he was fourth in the AL Cy Young voting but 0-1 with a 5.56 ERA in two starts vs. Toronto. Bo Bichette is 5-for-12 off him with a homer. George Springer just 1-for-12. Boston is 7-3 in its past 10 after a loss.

Who Will Win Blue Jays vs. Red Sox?

• Regular Season

Blue Jays Team Leaders

TOR

HR	Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 17
BA	Gabriel Moreno 0.33
SB	George Springer 6

BOS

HR	Rafael Devers 17
BA	Jaylin Davis 0.5
SB	Trevor Story 9

• Regular Season

Red Sox Team Leaders

TOR

HR	Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 17
BA	Gabriel Moreno 0.33
SB	George Springer 6

BOS

HR	Rafael Devers 17
BA	Jaylin Davis 0.5
SB	Trevor Story 9

Injuries

Toronto

Alejandro Kirk (C)

Prob Sat Hand - 25 / 06 / 22

Yimi Garcia (RP)

Out indefinitely Back - 22 / 06 / 22

George Springer (CF)

Ques Sun Elbow - 21 / 06 / 22

Trevor Richards (RP)

Out indefinitely Neck - 18 / 06 / 22

Bo Bichette (SS)

Prob Sat Foot - 16 / 06 / 22

George Springer (CF)

Ques Thurs Rest - 16 / 06 / 22

Matt Chapman (3B)

Prob Fr Wrist - 16 / 06 / 22

Julian Merryweather (RP)

Out indefinitely Oblique - 13 / 06 / 22

Alejandro Kirk (C)

Ques Sat Rest - 11 / 06 / 22

Matt Chapman (3B)

Prob Tues Wrist - 11 / 06 / 22

Boston

Rafael Devers (3B)

Ques Wed Rest - 22 / 06 / 22

Alex Verdugo (RF)

Ques Sat Rest - 18 / 06 / 22

Rob Refsnyder (LF)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 15 / 06 / 22

Christian Arroyo (2B)

Prob Fri Illness - 14 / 06 / 22

Alex Verdugo (RF)

Prob Sat Knee - 11 / 06 / 22

Garrett Whitlock (RP)

Early July Hip - 11 / 06 / 22

Xander Bogaerts (SS)

Ques Fri Shoulder - 09 / 06 / 22

Nathan Eovaldi (SP)

Early July Back - 09 / 06 / 22

Xander Bogaerts (SS)

Prob Wed Shoulder - 08 / 06 / 22

Enrique Hernandez (CF)

Early July Hip Flexor - 08 / 06 / 22

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Alejandro Kirk (C)	Prob Sat	Hand - 25 / 06 / 22	2-0	2-0	+ -
Kirk exited the previous game with a left hand contusion, but it is projected that he will face the Brewers on Saturday.
Yimi Garcia (RP)	Out indefinitely	Back - 22 / 06 / 22	2-2	4-0	+ -
Garcia has been assigned to the 15-day injured list with a left back strain, and it remains to be seen when he will return to the lineup.
George Springer (CF)	Ques Sun	Elbow - 21 / 06 / 22	3-2	5-0	+ -
Springer has been absent from the previous three games due to right elbow discomfort, and it is unclear if he will suit up Sunday versus the Brewers.
Trevor Richards (RP)	Out indefinitely	Neck - 18 / 06 / 22	3-4	6-1	+ -
Richards has been shifted to the 15-day injured list due to a neck strain, and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Bo Bichette (SS)	Prob Sat	Foot - 16 / 06 / 22	3-6	8-1	+ -
Bichette was absent from the last game due to a right foot contusion, but it is projected that he will be active versus the Yankees on Saturday.
George Springer (CF)	Ques Thurs	Rest - 16 / 06 / 22	3-6	8-1	+ -
Springer is unlikely to be active against the Orioles on Thursday, as he is projected to receive a day of rest.
Matt Chapman (3B)	Prob Fr	Wrist - 16 / 06 / 22	3-6	8-1	+ -
Chapman sat out the last game due to a sore right wrist, but it is projected that he will be in Friday's lineup versus the Yankees.
Julian Merryweather (RP)	Out indefinitely	Oblique - 13 / 06 / 22	5-7	10-2	+ -
Merryweather has been designated for the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Alejandro Kirk (C)	Ques Sat	Rest - 11 / 06 / 22	6-8	11-3	+ -
Kirk is unliekly to face the Blue Jays on Saturday, as he is projected to receive a day of rest.
Matt Chapman (3B)	Prob Tues	Wrist - 11 / 06 / 22	6-8	11-3	+ -
Chapman has been held out of the last three contests with wrist soreness, but it is projected that he will lace up for Tuesday's tilt against the Orioles.

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Rafael Devers (3B)	Ques Wed	Rest - 22 / 06 / 22	2-1	1-1-1	+ -
Devers is absent from the starting lineup against the Tigers on Wednesday as he will receive a day of rest.
Alex Verdugo (RF)	Ques Sat	Rest - 18 / 06 / 22	4-3	4-2-1	+ -
Verdugo is unlikely to be active versus the Cardinals on Saturday, as it is anticipated that he will be given a day of rest.
Rob Refsnyder (LF)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 15 / 06 / 22	6-4	5-4-1	+ -
Refsnyder sat out the previous contest with an undefined issue, and it is unknown if he will be active for Thursday's clash versus the Athletics.
Christian Arroyo (2B)	Prob Fri	Illness - 14 / 06 / 22	7-4	5-5-1	+ -
Arroyo has been added to the COVID-19 list, but he is likely to return to the lineup for Friday's matchup versus the Guardians.
Alex Verdugo (RF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 11 / 06 / 22	8-6	6-7-1	+ -
Verdugo is expected to be back in the lineup Saturday against the Mariners.
Garrett Whitlock (RP)	Early July	Hip - 11 / 06 / 22	8-6	6-7-1	+ -
Whitlock has wound up on the 15-day injured list due to a right hip impingement, and it is projected that he will remain out of the lineup until the beginning of July.
Xander Bogaerts (SS)	Ques Fri	Shoulder - 09 / 06 / 22	8-8	7-8-1	+ -
Bogaerts missed the previous outing due to a tight shoulder, and it is unclear if he will face the Mariners on Friday.
Nathan Eovaldi (SP)	Early July	Back - 09 / 06 / 22	8-8	7-8-1	+ -
Eovaldi has been ticketed for the 15-day injured list with lower-back inflammation, and he is not expected to be activated until the start of July.
Xander Bogaerts (SS)	Prob Wed	Shoulder - 08 / 06 / 22	9-8	7-9-1	+ -
Bogaerts exited the last game due to a tight left shoulder, but it is likely that he will be available for Wednesday's tilt against the Angels.
Enrique Hernandez (CF)	Early July	Hip Flexor - 08 / 06 / 22	9-8	7-9-1	+ -
Hernandez has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hip flexor strain, and he is not likely to be activated until at least the beginning of July.

Weather

temp	47
condition	cloudy
wind	Out to Right 17mph