Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Picks and Predictions August 27th 2024

Slumping Red Sox look to get back on track vs. Blue 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.

Take your MLB handicapping to the next level with our expert MLB handicappers

As the Boston Red Sox’s American League playoff hopes continue to dwindle, the team looks to rebound from a disappointing doubleheader sweep as they continue their critical five-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Red Sox Playoff Chances Fading Fast

The Red Sox find themselves 5.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins, who currently occupy the final AL wild-card spot. Boston’s recent 4-1 and 7-3 losses to Toronto on Monday marked their fourth consecutive defeat and their sixth loss in eight games. These struggles could not have come at a worse time, with the postseason quickly approaching.

“It’s not happening right now, to be honest with you,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora, reflecting on the team’s recent performance. “It’s been going on for a while here, right? Most of (the players) haven’t been in this situation before, right? Every pitch matters, every at-bat matters. We just gotta make sure we slow it down. … We’re better than this. We know that.”

Individual Performances Show Promise Amid Team Struggles

Despite the team’s woes, center fielder Jarren Duran was a standout performer on Monday, launching home runs in both games and adding two doubles in the nightcap. His contributions, however, were not enough to secure a victory.

“It’s nice to come up with those productive days, but we didn’t get the wins,” Duran remarked. “I think we’ve just got to get back on the horse … and believe in ourselves again.”

The Red Sox’s defensive struggles were evident as they committed four errors across the two games, further compounding their difficulties. In contrast, Toronto’s clutch hitting, particularly their five hits with runners in scoring position, was instrumental in their victory.

Blue Jays Riding High

The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are surging at the right time, extending their winning streak to a season-high five games. George Springer, a Connecticut native, was the hero for Toronto, homering in both games of the doubleheader and making it four home runs in his last six games.

“It’s been a weird year for George,” Toronto manager John Schneider noted. “He’s been so consistent in the clubhouse, and he’s done such an amazing job to keep these young kids under wraps. It goes without saying, we need George to be George, and he’s been that for a good while now.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also continued his hot streak, notching a two-hit game to bring his post-All-Star break batting average to an impressive .415. His performance underscores the Blue Jays’ depth and the critical role of their star players as they push for a playoff spot.

Upcoming Pitching Matchup: Criswell vs. Rodriguez

Tuesday’s game will feature a pitching matchup between Boston’s Cooper Criswell (5-4, 4.41 ERA) and Toronto’s Yariel Rodriguez (1-5, 4.40 ERA). Criswell, making his second consecutive start, delivered a solid performance in his last outing, allowing just one run over 4 2/3 innings against Houston. However, his season has been marked by inconsistency, with a 3.88 ERA in 14 starts and a 7.30 ERA in six relief appearances. His career numbers against Toronto are less encouraging, with a 5.68 ERA in two appearances, including one start.

Rodriguez, a 27-year-old rookie, has struggled recently, giving up nine runs in 9 1/3 innings over his last two starts. His inability to pitch deep into games has been a concern, as he has failed to complete five innings in three of his last five starts. His only previous outing against Boston was an abbreviated one-inning start that was cut short by inclement weather.

A Historic Twist: Danny Jansen’s Unique Feat

Adding to the drama of this series, Danny Jansen made history by becoming the first player in MLB history to appear for both teams in the same game. Jansen, who began the season with Toronto before being traded to Boston, started the suspended June 26 game as Toronto’s catcher. When play resumed on Monday, he completed the game as a member of the Red Sox.

Conclusion: A Pivotal Series for Boston’s Playoff Hopes

For the Red Sox, this series against the Blue Jays is pivotal. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, every game, every pitch, and every at-bat carries immense weight. While individual performances like those of Jarren Duran offer glimmers of hope, the team must find a way to collectively overcome their recent struggles. As they face a surging Toronto team, the challenge is clear: turn the tide now, or risk watching the postseason slip out of reach.