Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, Trevor Story, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, Bo Bichette. Yep, there’s one sure-fire way to make some dough every time Red Sox vs Blue Jays odds hit the board: Bet on a low-scoring snoozefest.
Wait, what?
It’s true: The Under has cashed in seven of the last 10 meetings between these AL East rivals, with six of those contests producing a combined five runs or less. Last week at Fenway Park, the Blue Jays and Red Sox squared off for the first time in 2022 … and tallied 15 runs in a three-game set (final scores of 2-1, 6-1 and 3-2).
The Under hit in all three and is now 5-1 in the last six head-to-head battles.
Will the low-scoring trend continue Monday when Boston and Toronto kick off a four-game set north of the border? The betting market sure thinks so, as the consensus total has already dropped a full run from the opening number.
Props.com breaks down the total and other Red Sox vs Blue Jays odds and ends in Monday’s AL betting preview.
Odds via PointsBet USA and updated as of 11:45 a.m. ET on April 25.
Boston Red Sox (7-9) Vs Toronto Blue Jays (10-6)
First Pitch/TV: 7:07 p.m. ET/MLB Network & MLB.TV
Moneyline: Blue Jays -125/Red Sox +105
Run Line: Blue Jays -1.5 (+155)/Red Sox +1.5 (-186)
Total: 8 (Over -110/Under -110)
Pitching matchup: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 3.68 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) vs. RHP Jose Berrios (1-0, 6.35 ERA, 2.03 WHIP)
Season series: The Blue Jays lead 2-1, taking two out of three in Boston last week.
Did you know: Boston is in the midst of a season-opening stretch of playing 23 games in 24 days, including 17 in a row from April 15-May 1. Toronto is in an even worse scheduling spot, playing its first 30 games in 31 days, including 20 in a row from April 19-May 8.
About the Red Sox
Hits & Misses: Boston dropped two of three games last week to AL East rivals Toronto (home) and Tampa Bay (road). The Red Sox are just 2-5 in their last seven overall, scoring a combined 16 runs along the way. Boston’s offense — which has tallied more than four runs just four times in 16 games — ranks in the bottom in MLB in homers (11, T-27th), OPS (.626, 22nd) and runs (T-21st). On the bright side, the Red Sox are 26-12 in their last 38 games against Toronto as a visitor. That includes games the Blue Jays hosted in Florida and Buffalo, N.Y., because of Canada’s COVID restrictions.
On the Mound: Eovaldi turned in his best performance of the young season Tuesday against the Blue Jays at Fenway Park. The right-hander scattered seven hits and one run (solo homer) while striking out six in 4.2 innings. He didn’t factor in the decision, as Boston held on for a 2-1 series-opening win. Eovaldi has a 19-3 K/BB ratio in three starts, but he’s yielded five homers in 14.2 frames. In 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Blue Jays, Eovaldi is 1-2 with a. 4.33 ERA. However, both defeats occurred in Toronto, where he has an 8.04 ERA in three starts (15.2 innings).
Injuries: The Red Sox have been without designated hitter J.D. Martinez (groin) for the last four games. He’s questionable for Monday.
About the Blue Jays
Hits & Misses: Toronto’s four-game winning streak came to an end in extra-innings walk-off fashion Sunday in Houston. After rallying from deficits of 4-1 and 5-2, the Jays scored a run in the top of the 10th to take a 7-6 lead but gave up two in the bottom of the inning. Prior to Sunday, Toronto’s pitching staff had yielded three runs or fewer in five straight games and eight of nine. The Blue Jays lead MLB with 22 home runs and rank sixth in batting average (.250). Toronto enters Monday tied with the Yankees atop the AL East standings, and those clubs are tied with Seattle for the AL’s best record.
On the Mound: Like his counterpart on the mound Monday, Berrios is coming of his best start of 2022. After surrendering seven runs in 5.1 innings in his first two outings, the right-hander held the Red Sox to a run and struck out six in six innings Wednesday, earning a 6-1 victory. However, Berrios allowed nine baserunners (eight hits, one walk). That brings his season total to 23 baserunners (17 hits, six walks) in 11.1 innings. Berrios had been 0-5 with a 4.46 ERA in his first career starts versus Boston prior to Wednesday’s victory at Fenway.
Injuries: OF Teoscar Hernandez and C Danny Jansen (both obliques) remain on the injured list and aren’t likely to return until at least mid-May.
Notable Trends
- BOS is 9-23 in its last 32 games as an underdog
- TOR is 4-1 in series openers this season
- Under for Boston is on runs of 5-0-1 overall, 6-1-1 on the road and 7-0-1 vs. the AL East
- Under for Toronto is on runs of 6-1 overall and 4-0 vs. the AL East
- BOS is 6-2 in Eovaldi’s last eight starts overall and 5-2 in his last seven vs. TOR
- TOR is 8-2 in Berrios’ 10 starts (3-0 this season)
- TOR is 6-2 in its last eight overall vs. BOS
- Under is 6-2 in Eovaldi’s eight career starts vs. TOR
- Under is 5-2 in Berrios’ last seven starts overall and last seven vs. BOS
Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Odds and Action
UPDATE 11:45 A.M. ET: PointsBet USA opened this game Sunday afternoon at Toronto -140/Boston +120. The line shifted between Blue Jays -140 and -145 for a couple of hours before dipping to Toronto -135 last night. As of 8 a.m. ET this morning, the Blue Jays dipped to -125, with Boston +105 on the take-back. The total has been on a downward move since initially opening at 8 (Under -120). After a couple of juice adjustments, PointsBet dropped to 8.5 (Over -120) last night. Additional juice moves to the Under followed until this morning, when the total plunged to 8 (Under -110) and 8 (Under -115) before rebounding to the current price of 8 (Under -110).
Check back prior to first pitch for additional Red Sox vs Blue Jays odds and action updates.
