Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox 8/5/2023 Expert Picks, Tips and Odds
Saturday afternoon will witness an exciting clash as the Toronto Blue Jays head-to-head with the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of a three-game series within the MLB’s American League East Division. This showdown will be at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Currently standing at an improved 61-50 overall record, the Blue Jays secured victory in two out of their last three games. They stand at 31-26 in road games demonstrating the team’s mettle away from home. In the challenging AL East, and hold the third position, three games ahead of the fourth-placed Boston. Throughout the campaign, the Blue Jays accumulated 498 runs while conceding 455, resulting in a commendable +43 run differential.
With their sights set on continuing their successful streak, the Blue Jays aim to build upon their recent victories, including a notable 7-3 triumph over the Red Sox on the road. Notably, Davis Schneider marked his major league debut with a home run, contributing to the Blue Jays’ season-high five home runs in their latest road victory over the Red Sox.
Following Shortstop Bo Bichette’s placement on a 10-day injured list, their First Baseman leads Toronto in batting average at .265, with a team-leading 17 home runs and 67 runs batted in for the season. Second Baseman Whit Merrifield has contributed significantly with a team-best 112 hits for the Blue Jays.
Taking the Toronto Blue Jays mound on Saturday will be right-handed pitcher Jose Berrios as they embark on Game 2 of their series against the Boston Red Sox. Berrios holds an 8-7 record for the season, boasting an impressive 3.31 ERA and a solid 1.20 WHIP. He displayed his pitching prowess by striking out a total of 123 batters and allowing 116 hits, 40 walks, and 14 home runs over the course of 130.1 innings pitched in his starts.
In 8 of Toronto’s previous 9 games, the totals stayed UNDER. The Blue Jays have a 2-4 SU record in their last 6 games. The Blue Jays are 4-1 SU in their last 5 road games, while 1-7 straight up in their previous 8 games against Boston. In 5 of Toronto’s past 6 road games against the Red Sox, the totals went OVER.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox 8/5/2023 Expert Picks, Tips and Odds
The Boston Red Sox are facing challenges as they return home, aiming to halt a two-game losing streak and regain their winning momentum. Their quest to reestablish dominance unfolds as they host Game 2 of a series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Boston’s overall record stands at 57-52, and recent struggles led to losses in five of the last six games. Their performance at home also wavered, with a 27-28 record, and they currently occupy the fourth position in the fiercely competitive AL East. The team trailed Toronto by three games in the third spot. Over the course of the year, the Red Sox amassed 538 runs while conceding 499, resulting in a positive run difference of +39.
Boston’s challenges extended to recent matchups, with a difficult stretch of four losses in the last six road games and a recent setback at home against the Blue Jays, culminating in a 3-7 loss. Boston’s offensive yielded a limited output in their latest outing, managing just 6 hits and 3 runs scored. Starting Pitcher James Paxton (6-3, 3.60 ERA) encountered difficulties, allowing 9 hits, 4 earned runs, and 2 walks while striking out 4 across 5.0 innings pitched in the losing effort.
Among the key contributors for the Red Sox, Left Fielder Masataka Yoshida boasts an impressive .305 batting average, leading the team with a total of 113 hits and an on-base percentage of .366 for the season. Third Baseman Rafael Devers has notably delivered 25 home runs and driven in 76 runs, establishing himself as a vital force for Boston. The Red Sox holds a collective batting average of .263 and a slugging percentage of .433 for the year.
As the Boston Red Sox gear up for Game 2 of the three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon, the starting pitcher for the matchup remains to be determined by the team’s management.
In 7 of Boston’s previous 10 games, the totals stayed UNDER. In their previous 6 games, the Red Sox have a 1-5 SU record. In 10 of Boston’s past 12 games against Toronto, the totals went OVER, while in 6 of the Red Sox’s last 7 home games, the totals stayed UNDER. In 5 of the Boston Red Sox’s past 6 home games versus the Blue Jays, the totals went OVER.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox. The MLB Pick for this contest is Boston. Boston has triumphed in nine of its previous ten home games while Toronto has lost four of its last five games in the past seven head-to-head meetings between the two teams. Jose Berrios, a pitcher for the Blue Jays, had a string of five consecutive quality starts but struggled this season against Red Sox batters, surrendering nine earned runs in 11-1/3 innings as Toronto dropped the contest. The predicted outcome will be a 7-3 Boston Red Sox victory.
MLB Starting Time: 4:10 PM ET
Location: Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023
TV: FS1
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Boston Red Sox -157
MLB Totals: 9.5
