The Boston Red Sox Will Stay Hot This Week

The Toronto Blue Jays will begin a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox to start the week. While the Blue Jays have been disappointing this year, the Red Sox have been one of the league’s biggest surprises. The Blue Jays vs Red Sox betting odds have Toronto at +130 with Boston at -155 on the moneyline. The total is at 8.5.

Boston is 42-36 and would earn the final AL Wild Card spot if the season ended today. On the other hand, the Blue Jays would finish as the fourth-worst team in the American League with a 35-42 record.

It also won’t get easier. Bo Bichette is on the Injured List, and prospect Orelvis Martinez is suspended after using performance-enhancing drugs. He’s one of their top prospects, and he had an insane opportunity to showcase his skills with Bichette unavailable.

Now, he won’t get that opportunity and will have to wait until September to play again.

Orelvis Martinez’s Suspension

Just days after giving top MLB pipeline prospect Orelvis Martinez his first chance in the majors, Martinez was caught using performance-enhancing drugs. He’ll be suspended for 80 games with no questions asked.

Martinez gave out a statement about why he tested positive, saying a doctor gave him a drug to help fertility. Still, he took responsibility and will no longer be allowed to play for nearly three months.

This comes at a brutal time for the Blue Jays, who are still without Bo Bichette at shortstop.

No Off Days For Jarren Duran

It’s rare to find players like Jarren Duran.

He’s played all 78 games for the Boston Red Sox this season. He’s added a batting average hovering around .280 and has hit an OPS above .800 this season.

But Alex Cora pranked Duran and sent him to his office to tell him he was getting a day off. Duran wasn’t having any of that and quickly shut down the idea without knowing it was a prank.

The 27-year-old Red Sox outfielder is becoming a leader in the clubhouse now.

Jays vs Red Sox Betting Odds For Game 1:

RL: Red Sox -1.5 (+130) ML: Red Sox -155, O/U: 8.5 -120/+100

Bassit is a right-handed pitcher who has allowed a .341 wOBA to his last 67 lefties. He’s finally started to limit power to lefties but has still added just 16.4% of strikeouts with 11.9% of walks to lefties over the last 30 days.

Unfortunately, he’ll take on a Red Sox lineup filled with powerful lefties. The projected Boston lineup has six lefties who have combined to hit a .239 ISO and wOBA of .396 against righties over the last 30 days. Boston has potential against Bassitt despite his better performances over the previous month.

Plus, with the win blowing out to right field, the MLB weather looks good for Boston.

Meanwhile, Tanner Houck is penciled into the lineup for the Red Sox. He’s struck out more than 24% of batters and has walked only 3.8% over the last month. Additionally, he’s held opponents to a .080 ISO and wOBA of .248 over the previous month.

However, his strikeout rate could take a hit against the Red Sox, who have struck out only 16.6% of the time over the last month. Even with a low strikeout rate, we’d still expect Houck to pitch well enough to get the win. After all, the Blue Jays’ projected lineup has hit a .115 ISO against righties over the last month.

Let’s take the Red Sox in Game 1 at -155.

In the second game, Kevin Gausman will get the ball. He’s a righty who has been bad against left-handed pitching over the last 30 days. He’s allowed a .280 ISO and wOBA of .364 to his previous 79 lefties. Gausman’s also given up 39% of line drives to lefties, with only 27.1% of ground balls induced over the last month.

Again, the Red Sox have plenty of power potential against righties from the left side and should exploit Gausman as much as Bassitt in Game 1.

Gausman will face Brayan Bello in Game 2. Bello has also struggled against left-handed hitters over the last 30 days. However, the difference is that Toronto’s lineup only has three lefties in the projected lineup. Those three lefties have hit a .104 ISO and wOBA of .322 over the last 30 days against righties.

Bello still has an advantage over Gausman. Our MLB predictions for this game include Boston on the moneyline.

In the finale, Yariel Rodriguez will get the start for Toronto. He’s a righty who has allowed a .174 ISO and wOBA of .391 to 91 batters this season. The only thing he’s done well has been limiting power against lefties, but he’s still allowed more than 25% of line drives to both sides of the plate.

He’ll battle Kutter Crawford of the Red Sox in this one. Crawford has allowed a .274 ISO and wOBA of .327 to his last 124 batters. While his strikeout rate is high, Crawford is starting to trend down. Consider the Over in the final game of the Jays vs Red Sox betting preview.

For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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