The Toronto Blue Jays (89-69) host the Boston Red Sox (75-83) at Rogers Centre on Sunday with the home team in position for a sweep of the three-game series. The Blue Jays lead the series 2-0 after winning 10-0 on Saturday, their eighth straight head-to-head victory and 15th in 18 games this season. Starter Ross Stripling threw six scoreless innings for the win. Teoscar Hernandez went 4 for 5 with a home run and two doubles in the win. He scored four runs and had two RBIs. Danny Jansen went 3 for 4 with a home run and a double. He drove in five runs. Rafael Devers was 2 for 4 for the Red Sox.
ON THE MOUND
Michael Wacha (11-1, 2.70 ERA) is set to take the mound for Boston. The RHP allowed six runs over 3.1 innings in his last start, a 13-9 home win over the Orioles on Tuesday. He gave up eight hits while striking out three in the no-decision. Over two previous starts against the Blue Jays this season, Wacha has allowed five earned runs over 11 innings (1-0, 4.09). He has struck out seven and walked five. For Toronto, righty Kevin Gausman (12-10, 3.30 ERA) gets the ball. He has made five appearances against the Red Sox this season, all starts, giving up nine runs (8 ER) over 31 innings (3-0, 2.32) with 43 strikeouts and two walks. In his last start on Monday, Gausman took a no-decision at home against the Yankees. He threw 6.1 innings and gave up two runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking one in the 3-2 win. The RHP ranks fifth in the AL in strikeouts (201).
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Boston has averaged 4.2 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 4.5. Against right-handed pitchers like Gausman this season, the Sox have a .726 OPS. Devers is the team’s strongest performer against right-handers with a .921 OPS in 397 at-bats. Toronto is averaging 5.4 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 4.8 for the season. The Jays have a .756 OPS against right-handers in 2022, second highest in the league. With a .352 OBP over 514 at-bats, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has their highest on-base percentage against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston is on a seven-game losing streak away from Fenway Park, bringing their record to 35-45 in 2022. The Sox have scored 4.3 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.6 runs. Toronto has gone 46-34 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 4.4 runs per game while surrendering 4.4. In the last 10 games at Rogers Centre between the AL East rivals, Toronto is 8-2 with an average scoreline of 6.0-3.5.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, 21 games behind the division-leading Yankees. The Blue Jays are second in the AL East, eight games behind the Yankees. They currently occupy one of the Wild Card spots, sitting first with a magic number of four.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Toronto Blue Jays (-190)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.