MLB Baseball
2012-04-09 - Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Monday 9 April 2012 - First Pitch 7:07pm ET
12:07am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Toronto Blue Jays (2-1) are one of the leading contenders in the American League East this season, but they will want to prove it in this series as they face the Boston Red Sox (0-3).
This is the second season in a row that the Red Sox have started 0-3, the first time that has happened since the early 1930's and they will want to avoid a 0-6 start as they did last season. Boston had only earned 2 runs from their first 2 games at Detroit, but they were very unfortunate to blow a 3 run lead in the final innings yesterday as they were beaten in extra innings.
Felix Doubront will be given the ball for Boston as he makes his first start in 18 months. He made 11 relief appearances for the Red Sox last season, finishing the year with a 6.10 ERA.
Toronto won 2 out of 3 at Cleveland in their opening series of the season and had to come from behind in both wins. In fact, they needed extra innings to win their first 2 games, while another rally came up a little short yesterday in a 4-3 loss.
The Blue Jays will send Henderson Alvarez to the mound after the 21 year old was called up to the Major Leagues last Summer. He finished the season with a 1-3 record and 3.53 ERA, and he pitched 6 scoreless innings against the Red Sox in a game the Blue Jays won 1-0.
Head to Head
The Boston Red Sox won the season series between the teams last year by 10 games to 8.
Toronto finished with a 5-4 record in the games that took place in Canada.
Other Interesting Trends
Toronto are 6-2 in their last 8 games as the home favourite.
Boston are 1-11 in their last 12 games in the first of a new series.
They are 7-21 in their last 28 games against teams from the American League East.
Prediction
I am going to take a slight risk here and back the Toronto Blue Jays to win this game on the run line for the following reasons:
First, Toronto are playing with the confidence that comes from winning games from behind, knowing they are never out of a game regardless of the situation.
Second, the Blue Jays bats have been working a little better than the Red Sox in the opening few days of the season.
Third, I think the pitching edge is in favour of the Blue Jays too tonight, with the Boston pitcher making his first start in 18 months and one who was struggling in relief appearances last season.
Fourth, the bullpen has really struggled for the Red Sox in the opening three games of the season, while we have seen Toronto get stronger as the innings progress.
The Pick :
Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 Boston Red Sox
