StatFox.com - Sports Handicapping Community

The Leader In Sports Handicapping

Blue Jays, Red Sox meet on Tuesday
By: Staff Writer - StatFox
Published: 7/18/2017  at  11:27:00 AM
  Print This Article    

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (43-49)

at BOSTON RED SOX (52-42)

First pitch: Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. ET
Line: N/A, Total: N/A

The Blue Jays will be hoping to win back-to-back games against the Red Sox when the teams meet in Boston on Tuesday.

Toronto defeated Boston 4-3 on Monday night, and the Jays have now won six of their past 10 games. While they might be sitting in last in the AL East, this is an explosive team that can’t be counted out in the postseason race. Toronto can easily put together a nice winning streak, and perhaps that starts here. The Sox, meanwhile, will be hoping to win this game in order to stretch their lead in the AL East. They have a real opportunity to create some separation in coming weeks, and they need to take advantage. The starters in this Tuesday night matchup are set to be LHP J.A. Happ (3-6, 3.54 ERA, 60 K) for Toronto and LHP Brian Johnson (2-0, 4.29 ERA, 17 K) for Boston. One trend that favors the Red Sox in this game is the fact that the Jays are a lousy 4-12 against the money line after batting .200 or worse over a three game span this season. Boston is also an insane 12-1 after two or more consecutive losses on the year.

The Blue Jays are looking to win their second straight game and they’ll need Happ to be sharp in this one. He really struggled his last time out, allowing two earned runs and six runs total in only 4.0 innings of work against the Astros on Jul. 9. Prior to that, Happ had allowed two or fewer earned runs in three straight starts. Toronto needs him to pitch more like that guy and less like the one that showed up against Houston last start. It’s worth noting that Happ has not yet faced the Sox this season, but he was 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA in three starts against Boston last year. Offensively, the Jays are going to need a lot more out of 3B Josh Donaldson (.250 BA, 9 HR, 28 RBI) moving forward. Donaldson is usually one of the more dangerous hitters in baseball, but that hasn’t been the case this season. He was injured to open up the season and has not found his footing. The Jays need him to do that very soon.

The Sox will be counting on Brian Johnson to hold his own in a matchup with the Jays on Tuesday, but the lefty has not been very good recently. In Johnson’s last seven innings of work, he has allowed six earned runs and three homers. He must do a better job of avoiding the long ball moving forward, as five homers in only 21.0 innings of work is unacceptable. That could also get him into trouble against a Blue Jays team that has some explosive hitters in the lineup. On offense, it’d be big for the Sox if OF Mookie Betts (.274 BA, 17 HR, 56 RBI) can stay hot. He is 5-for-12 with a homer and three RBI over the past three games. It’s likely that he’ll have a strong second half of the year, as he struggled a bit in the first half and is far too good of a player to be down for a whole season.


FoxSheets.com
The FoxSheets - the most advanced sports handicapping information available on the internet.
Sign up for professional sports betting information including fantastic trends, and Free FoxSheets.
E-mail: