Red Sox vs. Blue Jays Pick
Are the Boston Red Sox going to be too much for the host Toronto Blue Jays to handle Tuesday night? First pitch is 7:07PM EST.
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have made the Red Sox a -230 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Blue Jays are a +195 underdog, while the over-under is 8.5. Boston is -140 on the -1.5 run line, while Toronto is +110 at +1.5.
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Cy Young Award candidate Chris Sale (14-6, 2.88 ERA) draws the start for the Red Sox, while the Blue Jays turn to Tom Koehler (0-1, 1.80). Sale has uncharacteristically struggled this month, posting a 5.40 ERA in five starts. Much of the damage can be attributed to his two starts against Cleveland, giving up a total of 13 earned runs in eight innings. Sale has a 0.93 WHIP with 253 strikeouts in 178 1/3 innings. Koehler has made two appearances since being acquired by Toronto, surrendering only one earned run with eight strikeouts in six innings. His number for Miami were much worse, however, as he posted a 7.92 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 55 1/3 innings.
Boston comes in with a 74-57 record and is 34-32 on the road, while Toronto is 61-70 and 35-32 at home. The Red Sox won the series opener 6-5 and has won seven of the last 10 meetings. The total has gone under in six of those games.
In the series opener, Boston used a four-run seventh inning to overtake the Blue Jays. Christian Vasquez was 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Eduardo Nunez went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and two runs. Andrew Benintendi singled doubled and scored a run. Hanley Ramirez was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs. Mitch Moreland added two hits and an RBI. Drew Pomeranz gave up three earned runs in six innings to improve to 14-4, while Craig Kimbrel picked up his 30th save. Justin Smoak hit his 36th home run for the Blue Jays, scoring two runs and driving in two while walking twice. Kendrys Morales added a double and two RBIs, while Darwin Barney recorded two hits. Danny Barnes took the loss in relief.
Sale is bound to return to elite form sooner rather than later and why not here? Koehler is a good bet to get pummeled unless the Toronto coaching staff has truly helped him fix a flaw or two. Expect Boston to run away and hide.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: BOSTON RED SOX RL -140