The Boston Red Sox will take on the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game series this week. The Red Sox are coming off a series win over the Yankees while the Blue Jays are coming off a series win over the Guardians.
Boston Red Sox (36-35) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (35-36)
Game 1:
Date: Monday, June 17
Time: 7:07 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 2:
Date: Tuesday, June 15
Time: 7:07 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 3:
Date: Wednesday, June 16
Time: 7:07 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Nick Pivetta (3-4, 3.88 ERA) vs. Yusei Kikuchi (4-5, 3.26 ERA)
Pivetta gets the ball for the first game he is making his tenth start, he is 3-4 with a 3.88 ERA, a 3.86 FIP, a 1.07 WHIP, and 55 strikeouts in 46.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Phillies going four innings giving up four runs on six hits; he walked four and struck out four. In his career against the Blue Jays, he is 2-4 with a 5.35 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and 74 strikeouts in 79 innings. Kikuchi goes for the Jays he is making his 15th start he is 4-5 with a 3.26 ERA, a 3.10 FIP, a 1.22 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts in 77.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Brewers going five shutout innings giving up three hits; he walked four and struck out five. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 0-2 with a 6.11 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 28 innings.
Game 2: Tanner Houck (7-5, 2.08 ERA) vs. Chris Bassitt (6-6, 2.93 ERA)
Houck gets the middle game making his 15th start of the year, he is 7-5 with a 2.08 ERA, a 2.20 FIP, a 0.94 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts in 91 innings. In his last start, he faced the Phillies going six innings giving up three runs on eight hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out five. In his career against the Blue Jays, he is 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. Bassitt will go for Toronto making his 15th start of the season he is 6-6 with a 3.56 ERA, a 3.85 FIP, a 1.40 WHIP, and 75 strikeouts in 78.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Brewers going five shutout innings giving up five hits; he walked four and struck out five. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in 21 innings.
Game 3: Brayan Bello (6-4, 5.00 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (5-5, 4.08 ERA)
Bello gets the finale he is 6-4 with a 5.00 ERA, a 4.71 FIP, a 1.39 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts in 63 innings. In his last start, against the Yankees he went 4.2 innings giving up five runs, four earned on six hits; he walked three and struck out five. In his career against the Blue Jays, he is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA, a 1.75 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts in 24 innings. Gausman goes for Toronto he is 5-5 with a 4.08 ERA, a 3.38 FIP, a 1.26 WHIP, and 75 strikeouts in 75 innings. In his last start, he faced the Guardians he went 5.1 innings giving up three runs on eight hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out six. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 7-9 with a 4.44 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 140 strikeouts in 131.2 innings.
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Leaders
Red Sox:
AVG – Connor Wong – .330
HR – Rafael Devers – 13
RBI – Ceddanne Rafaela – 39
IP – Tanner Houck – 91.0
ERA – Tanner Houck – 2.08
K – Tanner Houck – 89
Blue Jays:
AVG – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – .284
HR – Daulton Varsho – 11
RBI – Daulton Varsho – 35
IP – Jose Berrios – 92.0
ERA – Jose Berrios – 3.13
K – Yusei Kikuchi – 76
Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Numbers
Red Sox
AVG: .252 (6)
OPS: .735 (5)
R: 332 (11)
HR: 74 (14)
ERA: 3.48 (6)
K: 635 (4)
WHIP: 1.17 (6)
Blue Jays
AVG: .232 (21)
OPS: .675 (21)
R: 278 (26)
HR: 58 (27)
ERA: 4.06 (19)
K: 563 (24)
WHIP: 1.27 (16)
Wrap Up
The Red Sox made a statement last week and might be a problem when they are playing their best baseball. The Blue Jays also made a statement over the weekend. Now these two teams match up for the first time in 2024 and are neck and neck with each other. Everything points to the Red Sox right now and this is a crucial series for both teams to make some ground with the Twins if not pass them.
