The Toronto Blue Jays (+140) host the Boston Red Sox (-165) at Rogers Centre on Saturday. The early total has been set at 8.5 (O: +100 | U: -120). The Blue Jays (88-69) took Friday’s series opener 9-0, their seventh straight head-to-head victory and 14th in 17 games this season. Starter Alek Manoah threw six scoreless innings for the win, and Yusei Kikuchi pitched three scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season. Whit Merrifield went 3 for 3 with a double, two runs, and one RBI in the win over the Red Sox (75-82). George Springer added a home run, two runs, and three RBIs.
ON THE MOUND
Brayan Bello (2-7, 4.39 ERA) is in line for the start for Boston. The right-hander went the distance in his last start, but he was the hard-luck loser in a 2-0 road defeat against the Yankees on Sunday. He allowed two runs (1 ER) on six hits. Over two previous starts against the Blue Jays this season, Bello has allowed seven earned runs over nine innings (0-1, 7.00). He has struck out nine and walked three. For Toronto, RHP Ross Stripling (9-4, 3.16 ERA) will toe the rubber. He has made four appearances against the Red Sox this season, all as the starter, giving up six runs over 20 innings (1-0, 2.70) with 17 strikeouts and three walks. In his last start on Sunday, Stripling got the win on the road against the Rays. He threw five innings and gave up one run on six hits, striking out three, in the 7-1 triumph.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Boston has averaged 5.8 runs a game, up from their season average of 4.6, while slashing better across the board (.274/.353/.445). Against right-handed pitchers like Stripling this season, the Sox have a .726 OPS. Rafael Devers is the team’s best hitter against right-handers with a .921 OPS in 397 at-bats. Toronto is averaging only 4.8 runs per game in the last five, consistent with their season average. The Jays have a .756 OPS against right-handers in 2022, second highest in the league. With a .384 OBP over 514 at-bats, Alejandro Kirk has their highest on-base percentage against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston is on a six-game losing streak away from Fenway Park, bringing their record to 35-44 in 2022. The Sox have scored 4.3 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.6 runs. Toronto has gone 45-34 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 4.3 runs per game while surrendering 4.5. In the last 10 games at Rogers Centre between the AL East rivals, Toronto is 7-3 with an average scoreline of 5.1-3.7.
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 (-145)
Want up to a $1K risk free bet for this pick?
Claim with 
today!
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our MLB hub page for all your baseball needs!
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
