Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox Picks and Predictions September 24th 2024

The Red Sox and Blue Jays are set to face off in an AL East matchup at 7:07 PM ET at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Boston is currently on a three-game winning streak and has an overall record of 79-78, while the Blue Jays are 73-84 and have lost four straight.

Brayan Bello is starting for the Red Sox, while the Blue Jays are going with Bowden Francis. Toronto is favored on the money line, with the line sitting at -132 compared to the Red Sox at +112. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs.

Boston vs. Toronto Key Information

Brayan Bello will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Blue Jays, as he is coming off a start in which he took the loss and gave up one earned run in 5 2/3 innings of work. In that outing, he gave up two homers. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Bello has a record of 14-8 this season and an ERA of 4.49. Opponents are batting .250 off the right-hander this season. Looking at his overall numbers, Bello has a WHIP of 1.37 and has issued 3.52 walks per nine innings compared to 8.47 strikeouts.

Heading into today’s game, the Red Sox are 5th in home runs and have the league’s top BABIP at .32. Overall, they are averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 9th in the league. Boston has been even better on the road this season, averaging 4.8 runs per contest. As a team, the Red Sox are batting .253 and are 5th in slugging percentage.

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Rafael Devers has been the team’s top power threat this season, as his 28 home runs are 2nd on the team and 13th in the league. Devers also leads the team with 83 RBIs and comes into the game with a batting average of .272. Jarren Duran is batting .286 for the season and is currently on a four-game hitting streak.

Bowden Francis gets the start for the Blue Jays today and will be looking to bounce back from his last outing, where he took the loss. Against the Rangers on September 18th, he gave up two earned runs in six innings of work. Looking back further, he has given up at least one earned run in three straight outings. Francis’ record for the season is 8-5, and he has an ERA of 3.47. Out of his 12 starts, he has seven quality starts and is averaging 8.03 strikeouts per nine innings. For the year, he has allowed 17 homers. Per nine innings, he is giving up just 1.92 walks.

Over the past 10 games, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been on fire for the Blue Jays, batting .375 with two homers. He also has a team-high 100 RBIs and is batting .324 for the season. George Springer is second on the team with 19 homers but is batting just .220 for the season.

As a team, the Blue Jays are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 21st in the league. They are also just 19th in home runs and are batting a combined .242. However, they do have the 11th best on-base percentage in the league and have the 7th fewest strikeouts in the league.

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 9th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate. As for how we would play the money line in this one, we would be leaning toward the Red Sox to pick up the win. Boston’s offense is our 7th highest-rated home run-hitting team, and the Red Sox have the 4th best team ERA in the league. Bowden Francis is our 2nd lowest-rated starting pitcher of the day in terms of strikeouts.

Red Sox Look to Keep Slim Playoff Hopes Alive in Toronto

The Boston Red Sox will try to keep their postseason chances alive on Tuesday night as they face Toronto Blue Jays‘ right-hander Bowden Francis. Francis (8-5, 3.47 ERA) has been dominant against the Red Sox throughout his career, not allowing a single run over 9 2/3 innings in four career appearances, including one start.

In his most recent outing against Boston on Aug. 29, Francis delivered seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five without issuing a walk. The Red Sox will need to figure out how to break through against him to continue their late push for the postseason.

Bello Aims for Repeat Success Against Blue Jays

Boston will counter with right-hander Brayan Bello (14-8, 4.49 ERA), who has had mixed results against Toronto in his career. Bello is 3-4 with a 5.58 ERA in eight career starts against the Blue Jays but pitched a gem in his last matchup against them on Aug. 28. In that game, Bello threw eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out nine in a win.

With the Red Sox (79-78) needing to string together wins to have any hope of catching the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers for the final AL wild-card spots, Bello’s performance will be crucial.

Red Sox Capitalize on Blue Jays’ Mistakes in Opener

The Red Sox won Monday’s series opener 4-1, taking advantage of Toronto’s struggles with control. The Blue Jays (73-84) issued 10 walks, including seven by starter Chris Bassitt, which helped Boston secure its third consecutive victory and Toronto’s fourth straight loss.

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While Boston remains 3 1/2 games behind both Kansas City and Detroit, the team still has a mathematical, albeit slim, chance at making the playoffs.

“We’ve got to continue, win (Tuesday) and see where we are and finish strong,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Very slim chance to make it. We just have to continue to play good baseball.”

Blue Jays’ Bats Quiet as Guerrero Chases Milestone

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-4 in Monday’s game and remains six hits shy of reaching the 200-hit milestone for the season. Guerrero, who has hit 30 homers and driven in 100 runs while batting .324, will look to make an impact in Tuesday’s contest as the Blue Jays try to snap their losing streak.

Meanwhile, Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk extended his hitting streak to 15 games on Monday, going 1-for-4. He also showcased his defensive skills, throwing out one attempted base-stealer and picking off another runner. Kirk has thrown out 25 would-be base stealers this season, marking the highest total for a Toronto catcher since Russell Martin in 2015.

“I think he’s in a good rhythm,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “His exchange in getting rid of the ball has been really, really good and his throws have been really, really accurate. So it’s a pretty good recipe.”

Duran, Sogard Stay Hot for Boston

Boston’s Jarren Duran continues to be a bright spot for the Red Sox offense, leading the American League with 14 triples and 47 doubles. He hit his 14th triple of the season on Monday, following up his 47th double from earlier in the game. Duran’s 14 triples are the most by a Red Sox player since Jim Rice had 15 in 1978. Against Toronto this season, Duran has been particularly effective, batting .327 with four homers and seven RBIs in 11 games.

Nick Sogard also contributed for Boston on Monday, extending his hitting streak to six games with a double. Sogard is batting .467 (7-for-15) during the streak and continues to be a reliable presence in the lineup.

Red Sox Make Roster Moves as Jansen Hits IL

In a roster move on Monday, the Red Sox placed closer Kenley Jansen on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. Jansen, who had been a key part of Boston’s bullpen, finishes the season with a 4-2 record, a 3.29 ERA, and 27 saves in 54 appearances.

“That’s not an easy job (being the closer), especially at his age, and he continues to be a good one,” Cora said of Jansen.

Right-hander Chase Shugart was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to take Jansen’s spot on the roster as Boston looks to keep its bullpen strong down the stretch.