The Boston Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball as they head into Canada to face the Toronto Blue Jays for the start of a three-game series. It's time to continue our MLB odds coverage with a Red Sox-Blue Jays prediction and pick.
The Red Sox are 42-31 and second place in the AL East. Boston has won seven in a row and gone 8-2 over 10 games. Additionally, the Red Sox are 19-4 in June. The Blue Jays are 40-32 and in a third-place tie in the AL East. They are 3-7 over 10 games, and 12-12 in June. The Red Sox, Jays, and Tampa Bay Rays occupy all three wildcard spots at the moment.
The Red Sox will call up Connor Seabold for the start. It will be his second major league start ever. The 26-year-old rookie has thrown 11 starts for the Triple-A affiliate Woo Sox, where he sports a 2.09 ERA. Also, Baseball America ranked him as the 21st best prospect on the Red Sox farm system, including the 10th best pitcher. He implements a mid-90s fastball, a slider that is in the mid-80s, a changeup that sets down in the low-80s, and a curveball that sits in the mid-70s. Seabold will have some support as the bullpen ranks 14th in team ERA. The offense offers more spice.
The Blue Jays will roll with Kevin Gausman on the hill today. Gausman is 5-6 with a 3.19 ERA. He tossed six innings in his last start, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Gausman has been inconsistent, going six innings in two of four starts. Alternatively, he has lasted less than four innings in two of those four starts. Gausman is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against the Sox in 2022. He comes in with a career mark of 5-8 with a 4.01 ERA in 22 appearances against the Red Sox.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Red Sox-Blue Jays odds:
MLB odds: Red Sox-Blue Jays Odds
Red Sox: +1.5 (-128)
Blue Jays: -1.5 (+106)
Over: 9 (-120)
Under: 9 (-102)
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Why The Red Sox Could Cover The Spread
The Red Sox are first in the majors in batting average, third in on-base percentage, seventh in runs, and fifth in slugging percentage. The offense has been a significant reason for the winning streak.
Rafael Devers is one of the best players in baseball, batting .334 with 17 home runs and 45 RBIs. However, he has struggled against Toronto this year, batting .222 with one RBI and four runs scored over seven games against the Jays. Devers sports a .292 batting average, with 15 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 43 runs scored through 69 career games against Toronto. Thus, he hopes he can replicate those marks and boost the Sox in this three-game set in Canada.
J.D. Martinez remains impeccable, as he is batting .329 with eight home runs, 32 RBIs, and 43 runs scored. Likewise, he has torched the Jays, batting .353 with two RBIs through five games this year. Also, Martinez is batting .285 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 43 runs scored through 84 career games against Toronto.
Xander Bogaerts remains one of the best in the majors, batting .330 with six home runs, 31 RBIs, and 44 runs scored. Likewise, he has become a force of nature against Toronto, batting .500 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Bogaerts is 13 for 26 through seven games this year. Also, he is batting .297 with 18 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 95 runs scored through 136 games against the Jays.
The Red Sox will cover the spread if they can get a good game out of Seabold. Five innings and maybe two or fewer runs allowed would do the trick for the Sox. Additionally, Devers, Martinez, and Bogaerts must execute their pitches to keep Boston in the win column.
Why The Blue Jays Could Cover The Spread
The Blue Jays have some spice on offense and have also gone 5-2 against the Red Sox through seven games this year. Toronto took three of four from Boston in the last series at home and expects to replicate it today.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is batting .268 with 17 home runs and 43 RBIs. However, he has struggled against the Red Sox, batting .211 with no home runs and two RBIs through six games. Guerrero is batting .271 with nine home runs, 39 RBIs, and 33 runs scored through 50 career games. Bo Bichette has picked it up offensively, as he now bats .252 with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs. He has struggled against the Sox in 2022, batting .207 with one home run and seven RBIs. Bichette has a .310 batting average with six home runs and 25 RBIs through 31 career games against the Sox. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is batting .284 with four home runs and 32 RBIs. Additionally, he has also struggled against the Sox, with a .240 batting average, one home run, and one RBI through seven games.
The Blue Jays will cover the spread if Gausman can give them a good outing. Likewise, they need Guerrero, Bichette, and Gurriel to produce to cool down the Red Sox.
Final Red Sox-Blue Jays Prediction & Pick
The Red Sox are on fire right now. However, the Jays have the better pitcher on the mound. Expect the Jays' bats to take down the rookie and Gausman to finish it off.
Final Red Sox-Blue Jays Prediction & Pick: Blue Jays -1.5 (+106)
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