Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox Picks and Predictions June 18th 2024

After Taking Opener in Toronto, Red Sox Turn to Tanner Houck

After a convincing victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the series opener, the Boston Red Sox want to continue their momentum. With a solid exhibition from their Canadian players, the Red Sox hold back nothing triumph as they send right-hander Leather expert Houck to the hill on Tuesday night.

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Boost from the Canadians

In the series opener, Nick Pivetta, hailing from Victoria, British Columbia, pitched seven effective innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out four. Tyler O’Neill, another Canadian from Burnaby, British Columbia, hit two solo home runs, contributing to the Red Sox’s 7-3 victory.

Pivetta expressed his excitement about pitching in his home country, especially with family in attendance. O’Neill also relished his performance in front of the home crowd, adding a personal touch to the victory.

Pitching Matchup: Houck vs. Bassitt

• Leather expert Houck (Red Sox): Houck, who is 7-5 and has a 2.08 earned run average, will want to continue Pivetta’s momentum. Houck is 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA in five games (four starts) against Toronto in his career.
• Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt: Bassitt, holding a 6-6 record and a 3.56 Time, has been viable against the Red Sox previously. In his three career starts against Boston, he is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA. Last year, Bassitt made two starts against the Red Sox and pitched 14 innings, striking out 11, while allowing three runs on 11 hits.

Key Players and Performance

• Rafael Devers (Red Sox): Devers has a favorable history against Bassitt, going 3-for-8 with a double and two home runs. His performance will be crucial in providing the offensive support needed for Houck.
• Bo Bichette (Blue Jays): The Toronto shortstop missed his third consecutive game due to a calf injury but took ground balls before the game, indicating a possible return soon. His presence in the lineup would be a significant boost for the Blue Jays.

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Injuries and Roster Moves

Both teams are dealing with injuries affecting their lineups and bullpen:

• Toronto Blue Jays: Shortstop Bo Bichette’s calf injury and the placement of right-hander Yimi Garcia on the injured list due to right elbow neuritis are notable absences. Brandon Eisert, promoted to the majors, pitched two scoreless innings in his debut. With Garcia and Jordan Romano (right elbow inflammation) sidelined, Chad Green is likely to assume the closer role.
• Boston Red Sox: Shortstop David Hamilton left the series opener due to left side discomfort, with more details expected soon. Romy Gonzalez was reinstated from the injured list and started at second base, later moving to shortstop after Hamilton’s exit. Enmanuel Valdez took over at second base.

Manager Insights

• Alex Cora (Red Sox): Cora praised Pivetta’s outing, emphasizing the importance of his long innings to manage the bullpen’s workload. He also commented on the proactive approach taken with Hamilton’s injury.
• John Schneider (Blue Jays): Schneider acknowledged the unusual performance of Yusei Kikuchi in the opener, where Kikuchi allowed five runs on seven hits, including four home runs, over four innings. He hopes for a better outing from Bassitt to stabilize the team’s pitching.

Conclusion

As the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays get ready for the second round of their three-game series, the two groups will depend on their beginning pitchers to establish the vibe. Leather treater Houck plans to proceed with areas of strength for him and gather off the speed from Pivetta’s exhibition, while Chris Bassitt hopes to expand his successful history against Boston. Due to key players’ injuries, both teams will need contributions from their entire rosters to win. When these AL East rivals meet in Toronto, fans can anticipate an exciting and competitive contest.

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