Toronto Blue Jays (18-10) vs. Boston Red Sox (15-14)
May 1, 2023 7:10 pm EDT
The Line: Boston Red Sox +110 / Toronto Blue Jays -130 ; Over/Under: 9.5
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The Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox meet Monday in MLB action from Fenway Park. The Blue Jays are fresh off a weekend series versus the Mariners. After wins in the first two games, on Sunday Toronto fell in extra innings. As for Boston, they played the Guardians in their last set. The Red Sox split the first two installments, then on Sunday Boston bagged a six-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays eked out a 3-2 win over the Mariners in the Friday opener of their weekend series, then won another close one 1-0 on Saturday. In the Sunday game Toronto came back from a 4-0 deficit then blew an 8-4 lead in a 10-8 defeat. Starter Chris Bassitt finished with 5.0 innings, four earned, two hits and four walks.
As starter for the Monday matchup the Blue Jays will go with Jose Berrios. In his five starts so far Berrios is 2-3 with a 4.71 ERA and 30 Ks in 28.2 innings. Berrios is 74-57 with a 4.25 ERA in his career over 185 games (184 starts).
Boston Red Sox
Over on the Red Sox’ side, they fell to the Guardians 5-2 Friday then bounced back for an 8-7 Saturday win. In the Sunday rubber match Boston scored all their runs in a three-inning span during a 7-1 victory. Chris Sale went 6.1 innings in the start with one earned on three hits.
For the starter gig on Monday the Red Sox will go with Corey Kluber. In five starts this year Kluber is 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA and 20 Ks in 24.0 innings. Over his career Kluber is 114-75 with a 3.36 ERA in 261 games (256 starts).
The Blue Jays are 7-2 in their last nine Monday games and 9-3 in their last 12 versus the AL East. Toronto is 35-16 in their last 51 in game one of a series.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are 0-4 in their last four Monday games and 18-37 in their last 55 versus the AL East. The under is 11-5-1 in Boston’s last 17 Monday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’m staying with Toronto here. Berrios is rolling along pretty well right now. He’s 2-1 in his last three games with 19.0 combined innings. In that time Berrios has given up just three earned on 11 hits and two walks, and I think he’ll notch a quality start here. On Sunday the Jays did a great job with the comeback initially but the wheels fell off after the seventh inning. Still, Toronto’s offense recorded 14 hits and it was a nice homestand all together with five wins in six games. I like the Jays to bounce back for a victory in this opener.
