TORONTO @ BOSTON (BOS -143, 8.5)
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BLUE JAYS VS. RED SOX 6/24/24
For the second straight week, the Boston Red Sox will try to defeat a rival team in the American League East. Tonight, they will kick off a new three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, who will be making their first trip to Fenway Park this season.
Boston has been winning lately. During their most recent homestand, they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees before going 5-1 on a road trip through Toronto and Cincinnati. The Red Sox moved into third place in the American League wild card standings after defeating the Reds 7-4 on Sunday. Boston is 9-2 over its last 11 games.
Jarren Duran extended his hitting streak to 13 games on Sunday by going 3-for-5 to cap off an exciting series. Plus, he stole his 20th base of the season. While the lineup has been hitting the ball well lately, the pitching has been great all season long. Tonight, it will be Tanner Houck (7-5, 2.14 ERA) that starts for the Red Sox.
In 5.2 innings on Tuesday against Toronto, Houck gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out five. The right-hander's run of five consecutive appearances lasting at least six innings was ended, but the Red Sox went on to win the game 4-3. Houck has made six career appearances (five starts) against Toronto and is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA. Since April 12, he has made 12 consecutive starts without giving up more than three earned runs.
The Blue Jays, who were swept in Cleveland, have lost six straight games and are now seven games below .500. In addition to the prolonged slump, Orelvis Martinez, the team's top prospect, was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
On Sunday, despite their late comeback, the Blue Jays left two runners on base in the ninth inning. Nevertheless, Spencer Horwitz scored three runs and hit his first two home runs of the year. In addition, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits, one of which was a home run.
Steward Berroa was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Martinez, and he appeared in center field late in the game. He made his Major League debut after moving up the ranks since 2017.
The Blue Jays' finally named Chris Bassitt the starter for tonight’s game. That makes it a rematch of last week’s 4-3 Boston win. Bassitt is 6-6 on the season with a 3.52 ERA. Toronto has lost his last three straight starts despite Bassitt allowing no more than two earned runs in any of those games.
FREE PICK: BLUE JAYS-RED SOX OVER 8.5
Bassitt and Houck pitched against each other last week. Both pitched well, but the Red Sox have seen Bassitt and they have been crushing the ball. The Over has hit in 13 of their last 20 games. Boston has scored 7 or more runs in 6 of its last 10 games. Houck won’t give up many runs, but Toronto should add a couple to the cause. Six of the last eight Blue Jays-Red Sox games in Boston have gone Over the total.
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