The Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays face off in the opening game of a three-game American League East series in Rogers Centre on Monday evening. The Red Sox (78-78) are third in the AL East and are sending right-hander Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.21 ERA) to the bump. The Blue Jays (73-83) are last in the AL East and are having veteran righty Chris Bassitt getting the start. Let’s take a look at this series and which team can get the upper hand in the series against two divisional opponents.
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Boston Red Sox | -1.5 (+180) | Over 8 (-108) | -102 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +1.5 (-218) | Under 8 (-112) | -118 |
| **Odds Subject to Change** | |||
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Match Details
- Fixture: Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays
- Date and Time: September 23, 2024 at 7:07 PM ET
- Location: Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON
Key Stats
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have been an excellent offensive team throughout the season as they are seventh in the big leagues with a .746 team OPS while averaging 4.71 runs per game thus far. This lineup has been excelling in terms of hitting two-baggers as they lead MLB with 299 total doubles right now. Third baseman Rafael Devers has been hitting incredibly this season as he has a .272/.354/.516 slash line with 28 home runs, 83 RBIs, 87 runs scored, and three steals without being caught.
Right-hander Tanner Houck has been doing well throughout the season as he is 8-10 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in 173.2 innings during his 29 starts. Houck has been able to step up and is forcing hitters to struggle as he has a .236 opposing batting average this year. He is coming off a no-decision against the Tampa Bay Rays where he pitched four innings and allowed one run on four hits with one hit by pitch, zero walks, and four strikeouts.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays have been disappointing this season but have been an average team at the plate as they are 15th in Major League Baseball with a .706 team OPS while scoring 4.18 runs per game this year. One thing that is significantly lacking is the fact that they are 25th in the sport with 153 total home runs as a team. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been easily their best hitter as he has a .951 OPS with 30 homers, 100 RBIs, 97 runs scored, and two stolen bases on four attempts.
Veteran righty Chris Bassitt will take the mound here and is doing decently well this season. So far through 30 starts, he is 10-13 with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 166.2 innings of work. His big issue has been his command as his 63 walks is a career-high. Bassitt did not factor into the decision last time out against the Texas Rangers as he gave up seven runs (one earned) on six hits with one hit by pitch, three walks, and a pair of strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
Prediction
The Boston Red Sox are coming off a doubleheader on Sunday so they are going to be a bit exhausted before hitting customs to get into Canada. The starting pitchers have been doing well when diving into their road/home splits this year. Tanner Houck is 4-4 with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 79.0 innings (14 road starts) while Chris Bassitt is 7-7 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 96.1 innings (17 home starts).
When looking at the offenses in the previous six games, these teams are not doing too well. The Boston Red Sox are averaging four runs per game while the Toronto Blue Jays are scoring 2.83 runs per game in that span. Expect the under as the better bet for these AL East foes.
Final Pick
Under 8 Runs (-112)
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