Red Sox vs. Blue Jays Predictions, Odds and Picks: Toronto Completes Sweep

The Blue Jays go for the sweep today in this AL East series after winning the first three games against the Red Sox. You have it all in this Red Sox vs. Blue Jays predictions piece, from our picks and the starting pitching matchup to key game info and the latest odds.

The Red Sox (64-56) are mired in a five-game losing streak after winning nine in a row. While 10 games out of first place in the AL East, they are currently in the second AL Wild Card slot.

The Blue Jays (59-63) are inching closer to the .500 mark, winning three in a row and five of their last six games. While in the basement in the AL East, they are only 1.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card.

The most popular Canadian sportsbooks have the Red Sox as favorites in the series finale, at -155, with the Blue Jays at +144 and the total set at eight runs.

Red Sox Can’t Crack the Jays 

While Boston is 8-2 against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, they are only 3-9 against the Blue Jays, who are at the bottom of the division.

The Red Sox have been outscored 24-14 in their five-game skid.

This season, Boston ranks 18th in the Majors in runs scored and third in team ERA.

In the third game of this series, the Red Sox lost 6-4, with Willson Contreras having a solo home run and three other players having an RBI. Contreras (.280, 24 home runs, 70 RBIs) leads the club in home runs and RBIs and is only batting .185 with one home run and four RBIs in eight games this month.

Red Sox Starter for Series Finale 

Payton Tolle (7-6, 3.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) takes the hill for Boston, and they have won his last six starts, and in the last three he has only given up a total of five runs in 17 1/3 innings. However, the Sox have lost both of their starts against the Blue Jays, in which they pitched a combined 9 2/3 innings and gave up five runs. This season, he has worked 107 innings with 124 strikeouts and 24 walks.

Big Inning Late Propels Blue Jays 

In the third game of this series, in the 6-4 win, the Blue Jays erupted for five runs in the eighth inning. Myles Straw and Ernie Clement each had two RBIs, and Kazuma Okamoto had the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning.

While Toronto ranks a respectable 11th in the Majors in team ERA, they rank second-to-last in runs scored.

Okamoto (.228, 24 home runs, 71 RBIs) is the only player with more than 12 home runs and 48 RBIs and is slumping this month, only batting .200 with no home runs and two RBIs. George Springer (.235, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs) is the only other player in double digits in home runs, has not gone yard in the last 13 games, and only has 12 dingers after leading the club with 32 last season.

Blue Jays Starter for Series Finale 

Max Scherzer (1-4, 7.25 ERA, 1.53 WHIP) gets the nod in Game 3 for Toronto, and they have won two of his last three starts. After getting lit up for 17 runs in three starts, he has only given up a total of four runs in his last three outings. In an injury-marred season, he has not faced Boston, and in his lone start facing them last season, he gave up four runs in five innings. This season, in only 36 innings, he has fanned 27 and walked 15.

Red Sox vs. Blue Jays Predictions

Blue Jays ML Betway, +144

The Blue Jays are, obviously, the hotter team, taking the three games of this series while the Red Sox have lost five in a row. Three-time Cy Young winner Scherzer has an ERA north of 7.00 but has pitched well as of late. He will have another good outing facing a Boston lineup that has only averaged 2.8 runs in its five-game skid. Tolle will also have a good outing, but, as in the last game, Toronto will get clutch hitting and win a close one to finish off the sweep.

Under 8 runs Betway, -115

In the three games in this series, the total has gone Over once, Under once, and a push. The Red Sox are only averaging 2.8 runs in losing five in a row, and the Blue Jays rank second to last in baseball in runs scored. Scherzer and Tolle have each been solid in their last few outings and look for that trend to continue. The series finale will be a lower-scoring affair with solid pitching, so the Under is our pick.