AL East rivals will battle it out in a series in hopes of gaining ground on the Rays and Yankees.
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
Boston failed to pick up any ground on the first place Yankees, splitting a four-game series in the Bronx, as the team sits six games back in the divisional race. “We’re leaving here with a good taste in our mouths,” reliever Daniel Bard said. “We didn’t move up, but to stay where you’re at is kind of an accomplishment.” The Red Sox have won seven of their last 11 road games and are 22-16 away from Fenway Park since May 22. The bullpen has been a major strength over the last 13 games, posting a 1.32 ERA and holding opponents to a .144 average. The club has posted a solid 8-4 record this year on artificial turf (+480), but is still a dismal 26-34 over the last three seasons (-880). Boston has also compiled a winning 20-16 mark against left-handed starters this season (+110), averaging 5.5 runs per game and hitting for a combined .271 average.
Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is 8-3 with a 3.96 ERA and has led the team to two straight victories. In those games, he has allowed five runs and 13 hits over 14 innings of work. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.83 ERA in nine road starts this season, but has issued 27 walks in 54 innings of work. In 12 career starts in August, Matsuzaka has posted a solid 7-3 record and 3.02 ERA, allowing opponents to hit for a .216 average. He has made nine lifetime starts against the Blue Jays, producing a 6-1 record and 3.45 ERA, including a 3-2 road victory on July 11. In that start, he garnered the win by allowing two runs and six hits over six innings.
Toronto enjoyed a day off after starting pitcher Brandon Morrow missed a no-hitter by inches in a 1-0 home victory over the Rays. “That would have been great, but I’ll start at a complete-game, one-hit shutout with 17 strikeouts,” Morrow said. The Blue Jays are 3-0 on its current six-game homestand and are 30-22 overall at the Rogers Centre this year. Since April 29, the club is 26-13 at home and has outscored opponents by a 219-143 margin. Much of their success this season offensively has come by way of the long ball, as the Blue Jays lead the majors with 175 home runs. Toronto is 9-3 this season after a day off (+800) and 28-23 in this situation the last three years (+400). The club is also a solid 5-3 on the year after shutting out an opponent (+170).
Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky Romero is 9-7 with a 3.37 ERA in 22 starts this season and has picked up consecutive 8-2 victories over the Orioles and Yankees. In those outings, he has given up four earned runs and 11 hits over 16.2 innings, while issuing just two free passes and striking out 12. The left-hander is 5-2 with a 2.18 ERA in nine home starts this season, surrendering just three home runs in 66 innings. Romero has made seven career starts in August, posting a 3-2 record and 4.40 ERA. In six career outings versus the Red Sox, he is a dismal 1-4 with a 8.76 ERA, giving out 21 free passes in just 24.2 frames.
Bettors will find that the Red Sox are a solid 13-6 in the first game of a series, which fits nicely with the team’s 5-2 mark in Matsuzaka’s last seven road outings. Toronto is a dominating 11-1 in its last 12 games against the division, but is a dismal 2-8 in Romero’s last 10 starts to open up a series.
