Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Picks and Predictions August 28th 2024

Jarren Duran, Brayan Bello look to lead Red Sox past Jays

At 7:10 PM ET, the Blue Jays and Red Sox face off in an AL East matchup. This one is being played at Fenway Park in Boston, and the Red Sox are favored on the money line (-148). The Blue Jays have a record of 65-68, and they are 5th in the AL East, while the Red Sox are 3rd in the division despite being on a four-game losing streak.

Toronto will be looking to keep their five-game winning streak alive with a win over the Red Sox, and the money line odds have them at +125 compared to the Red Sox at -148. Cooper Criswell will be on the mound for the Red Sox, while the Blue Jays are starting Yariel Rodriguez. NESN is carrying this game on TV.

Toronto vs. Boston Key Information

• Teams: Blue Jays at Red Sox
• Where: Fenway Park Boston
• Date: Tuesday, August 27th
• Betting Odds BOS -148 | TOR +125 O/U 9.5

The Blue Jays Can Win If…

Right-hander Yariel Rodríguez gets the start for the Blue Jays today as he faces the Red Sox on the road. He has made 15 starts this season and has a record of 1-5 with an ERA of 4.33. Opponents are batting .217 this season off Rodríguez, and his WHIP for the season is 1.33. The last time he pitched, Rodríguez finished with a no-decision, giving up five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. He has not won a game since June 27th. So far, he has made two quality starts this year.

For the season, the Blue Jays are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 19th in the league. This is also the same spot they hold in terms of home runs, as they have a total of 134 home runs. As a team, they are batting .240, which is 14th in the league. Toronto’s offense is led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .321 for the season with 27 homers and 87 RBIs. George Springer is 2nd on the team with 19 homers but is batting just .222 for the season.

Springer has been swinging a better bat of late, going 9/34 in his last eight games with four homers and eight RBIs. Heading into today’s game, Justin Turner and Addison Barger are both on four-game hitting streaks, while Guerrero Jr. and Leo Jiménez are both on three-game streaks.

• The Blue Jays are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Blue Jays are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Toronto has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Blue Jays have an average of 5.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Blue Jays are 6-4
• Looking back across the Blue Jays last five games as the favorite, they are 5-0
• Toronto has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Blue Jays have averaged 4.8 runs per game on offense

The Red Sox Can Win If…

Cooper Criswell gets the start for the Red Sox today and has made 14 starts this season. He has a record of 5-4 and an ERA of 4.41. Criswell’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.34. The right-hander has made 20 appearances this year and has only turned in one quality start. In his last outing, Criswell went 4 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run, and finished with a no-decision. Before that, he had won two straight outings. Criswell’s ERA on the road is 7.26, compared to 4.21 at home.

As a team, the Red Sox are averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 6th in the league. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. Boston’s offense has been strong in terms of power, as they are 6th in home runs and have the league’s best isolated power mark at .179. The Red Sox are also one of the league’s best hitting teams, with a team batting average of .259.

Jarren Duran has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Red Sox, going 10/24 in his last seven games with three homers. For the season, he is batting .293 with 19 homers. Rafael Devers is also among the league leaders in homers, as his 28 long balls is 8th in the MLB. Devers is also 13th in the league with 80 RBIs.

• The Red Sox are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Red Sox are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Boston has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Red Sox have an average of 3.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Red Sox are 6-4
• Looking back across the Red Sox last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Boston has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Red Sox have averaged 5.3 runs per game on offense

The Lean

There should be no shortage of offense in today’s Blue Jays and Red Sox matchup, and not only are we leaning towards the Red Sox picking up a win, but we also like the over. Boston’s offense is our 4th highest-rated home run-hitting team in today’s slate of games, and Cooper Criswell is 9th among today’s starters in projected innings pitched.

The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays continue their pivotal five-game series on Wednesday night, with both teams vying for momentum as the regular season enters its final stretch. After snapping a four-game losing streak with a solid 6-3 victory on Tuesday, the Red Sox look to build on their success, spearheaded by standout performances from Jarren Duran and Brayan Bello.

Duran’s Offensive Surge Keeps Red Sox Playoff Hopes Alive

Jarren Duran has been instrumental in keeping Boston’s playoff hopes afloat. The dynamic outfielder has hit three home runs in the last three games, including a leadoff blast in Tuesday’s victory. His performance has been a beacon of consistency in an otherwise tumultuous stretch for the Red Sox. Manager Alex Cora’s praise for Duran reflects the high regard in which he’s held within the organization.

“Like I’ve been saying all along, he’s one of the best players in the big leagues, man,” Cora stated after Tuesday’s win. “Every night, you’re in awe of some of the things he’s doing. He set the tempo right away, and from there, we just kept going.”

With Boston closer to the bottom of the American League East than to a wild-card spot, the urgency is palpable. As pitcher Kenley Jansen noted, “Every game counts now. If we want to do it, we have to do it now, one inning at a time, one pitch at a time.”

Brayan Bello: A Mixed Bag Heading Into Key Start

On Wednesday, right-hander Brayan Bello (11-6, 4.95 ERA) will take the mound for Boston. Bello, who leads the team in wins this season, has experienced a rough patch recently, with only one victory in his last seven starts. His previous outing saw him struggle against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing five runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 12-2 loss.

Bello’s career against the Blue Jays has been less than stellar, with a 2-4 record and a 6.96 ERA over seven starts. However, the Red Sox will need him to reverse this trend if they hope to keep their postseason aspirations alive.

Red Sox Defense Shines

Boston’s defense was a game-changer on Tuesday, turning in a performance highlighted by three outfield assists and two double plays. This defensive prowess helped stymie a potent Blue Jays offense that has been putting pressure on opponents consistently.

“When you’re putting pressure on the other team to make really good plays, we’re good with that,” said Toronto manager John Schneider. “But (Tuesday), they made really good plays.”

Rafael Devers’ Health Remains a Concern

Rafael Devers, one of Boston’s key offensive weapons, could miss his second straight game on Wednesday as he deals with shoulder pain. Manager Alex Cora has emphasized the importance of managing Devers’ health carefully during this critical stretch, stating, “If he needs two or three (days off), we’ll do it. We have to take care of him.”

Blue Jays Look to Rebound Behind Chris Bassitt

The Blue Jays, who saw their five-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday, will turn to right-hander Chris Bassitt (9-12, 4.41 ERA) in hopes of bouncing back. Bassitt has been inconsistent in recent outings, allowing 14 runs over his last 15 innings. Despite these struggles, Bassitt has a strong track record against the Red Sox, boasting a 2-0 record with a 2.38 ERA in five career starts against Boston.

Toronto’s offense continues to show promise, with rookie second baseman Will Wagner and Daulton Varsho leading the charge. Wagner, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles and his first career home run on Tuesday, has been impressive in his limited time with the big league club. Varsho, meanwhile, extended his hitting streak to 10 games, batting .309 in August.

The Stakes Are High

As the Red Sox and Blue Jays face off in this crucial series, both teams understand the importance of every game. For Boston, a victory would mean building momentum and keeping their slim playoff hopes alive. For Toronto, it’s an opportunity to solidify their position in the standings and continue their push towards the postseason.

With Duran’s hot bat and Bello looking to regain his form, the Red Sox are poised for a strong showing. But they’ll need to overcome a resilient Blue Jays team that has shown its ability to bounce back, particularly with Bassitt on the mound.

As the series continues, every pitch and every play will count in what promises to be an intense battle between two teams with everything to play for.

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