Series Preview: Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays 6/24-6/26

The Boston Red Sox will take on the Toronto Blue Jays this week for a three-game series. The Red Sox are coming off a series win over the Reds while the Blue Jays are coming off being swept by the Guardians.

Boston Red Sox (42-36) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (35-42)

Game 1:

Date: Monday, June 24
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Game 2:

Date: Tuesday, June 25
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Game 3:

Date: Wednesday, June 26
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Probable Starting Pitchers

Game 1: Tanner Houck (7-5, 2.14 ERA) vs. Chris Bassitt (6-6, 3.52 ERA)

Houck gets the series started facing the Blue Jays again, he is 7-5 with a 2.14 ERA, a 2.22 FIP, a 0.97 WHIP, a 1.6 BB/9, and an 8.8 K/9 96.2 innings. This season in games started by him the Red Sox are 10-5. In his last start against Toronto, he went 5.2 innings giving up three runs, two earned on six hits; he walked two and struck out five. Bassitt goes for Toronto he is 6-6 with a 3.52 ERA, a 3.73 FIP, a 1.41 WHIP, a 3.6 BB/9, and an 8.6 K/9 in 84.1 innings. In his last start, he faced these same Red Sox going six innings giving up two runs on seven hits; he walked two and struck out six. The Blue Jays are 6-9 in games he starts this season.

Game 2: Brayan Bello (7-4, 4.83 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (5-6, 4.24 ERA)

Bello gets the middle game he is 7-4 with a 4.83 ERA, a 4.58 FIP, a 1.40 WHIP, a 3.4 BB/9, and an 8.1 K/9 in 69 innings. In his last start, he faced the Blue Jays going six innings giving up two runs on seven hits; he walked two and struck out six. In his 13 starts this season, the Red Sox are 8-5. Gausman gets the ball for Toronto he is 5-6 with a 4.24 ERA, a 3.70 FIP, a 1.29 WHIP, a 2.1 BB/9, and an 8.8 K/9 in 80.2 innings. In his last start, he also faced the Red Sox going 5.2 innings giving up five runs, four earned on six hits; he walked three and struck out four. In games he starts this season the Blue Jays are 7-8.

Game 3: Kutter Crawford (3-7, 3.59 ERA) vs. Yariel Rodriguez (0-2, 5.94 ERA)

Crawford gets the finale he is 3-7 with a 3.59 ERA, a 3.99 FIP, a 1.14 WHIP, a 2.7 BB/9, and an 9.2 K/9 in 92.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Reds going 6.1 innings giving up five runs, three earned on five hits; he walked two and struck out seven. In his 16 starts this season, the Red Sox are 4-12. Rodriguez gets the ball for Toronto he is 0-2 with a 5.94 ERA, a 4.83 FIP, a 1.92 WHIP, a 5.9 BB/9, and an 9.2 K/9 in 16.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Guardians going 1.1 innings giving up five runs, four earned on two hits; he walked three and struck out one. In games he starts this season the Blue Jays are 3-2.

Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Leaders

Red Sox:

AVG – Jarren Duran – .288
HR – Tyler O’Neill – 15
RBI – Ceddanne Rafaela – 41
IP – Tanner Houck – 96.2
ERA – Tanner Houck –2.14
K – Kutter Crawford – 95

Blue Jays:

AVG – Isaih Kiner-Falefa – .281
HR – Daulton Varsho – 11
RBI – Davis Schneider – 35
IP – Jose Berrios – 97.0
ERA – Jose Berrios – 3.43
K – Yusei Kikuchi – 83

Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays Numbers

Red Sox

AVG: .254 (6)
OPS: .742 (6)
R: 363 (10)
HR: 86 (12)
ERA: 3.45 (5)
K: 680 (7)
WHIP: 1.17 (5)

Blue Jays

AVG: .232 (22)             
OPS: .678 (21)
R: 296 (27)
HR: 67 (27)
ERA: 4.18 (22)
K: 605 (26)
WHIP: 1.29 (21)

Wrap Up

The Boston Red Sox have now won their fourth series in a row and currently hold the sixth and final Wild Card spot. They control their destiny going forward, if they can win this series against the Blue Jays it’ll be a step in the right direction. Boston is playing some of their best baseball and have become a fun team to watch especially as they continue to get healthy and get key pieces back.