Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
The Jays are -145 favourites on the MLB odds behind Jose Berrios for Game 1 on Friday.
Red Sox vs. Blue Jays June 30th Betting Analysis
While this is Toronto’s last home series before the All-Star break, it will still visit the White Sox for three and Tigers for three pre-break. The Jays will look for a little payback as they were swept four games in Boston at the start of May, allowing a combined 32 runs. It was Boston’s first sweep of Toronto in a four-game series since 2002.
AL Rookie of the Year candidate Masataka Yoshida – he’s 30 but eligible for the award because it’s the Japanese star’s first year in the majors – had a huge series in batting .529 with two homers and eight RBIs. Jarren Duran was 6-for-12 with three runs scored and a homer, while Justin Turner was 8-for-18 with two doubles. Both Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two homers and five RBIs for Toronto. Bo Bichette was 7-for-16 with a double and homer.
Toronto was 8-2 at home last season vs. Boston on the way to a dominant 16-3 series record, so the Red Sox already have won more game in this year’s series.
Boston Red Sox
The Sox are in a major offensive funk as they have lost five straight, totalling eight runs, and were just swept three at home by the Marlins despite Boston pitcher Brayan Bello carrying a no-hitter into the eighth in Thursday’s 2-0 loss. AL Rookie of the Year contender Masataka Yoshida was back in the lineup for that one after missing two with forearm soreness. He is in a slump right now. One of the best nicknames in sports belongs to Boston starting pitcher James Paxton, a native of British Columbia who is called “the Big Maple” as he stands 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. Paxton actually has played for the Blue Jays: North Delta Blue Jays of the British Columbia Premier Baseball League. The southpaw is in his first season with Boston and is 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA. In June, he was 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA. Paxton was removed from his last start following four inning due to right knee soreness but apparently is fine. He has struck out 31.8 per cent of batters, the fourth-best rate in the majors. A total of 30 of his 54 strikeouts have come with the four-seam fastball. The Red Sox are 1-4 in their past five on the road.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays activated catcher Alejandro Kirk off the IL ahead of Thursday’s game, a 2-1 win over the Giants as Toronto took two of three in that series. Jordan Romano got his 24th save Thursday, tying B.J. Ryan 2006) for the most saves before the All-Star break in franchise history. That was Romano’s lone time pitching in the series so he should be available if needed Friday. Jose Berrios (8-5, 3.60) is on the hill for Toronto. He beat Oakland last Saturday, allowing two earned over six with eight strikeouts to improve to 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA in six home starts. Berrios was lucky to get a no-decision in Boston on May 1 as he was hammered for five runs and 11 hits over 5.1 innings. Over 11 career games vs. Boston, he’s 1-5 with a 4.15 ERA. Alex Verdugo is 7-for-17 career off him with a homer and double. Rafael Devers is 5-for-25 with three doubles and a homer. The Jays are 4-1 in their past five at home.
BOS
TOR