Toronto Blue Jays (18-11) vs. Boston Red Sox (16-14)
May 3, 2023 7:10 pm EDT
The Line: Boston Red Sox +125 / Toronto Blue Jays -145; Over/Under: 9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox meet Wednesday in MLB action from Fenway Park. This will be the third installment in a four-game series. The Red Sox eked out a win in the Monday opener, then on Tuesday the Red Sox kept it going with another close victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto came back from a late 5-3 deficit to tie up the Monday game but ended up losing 6-5 in a walk-off. On Tuesday the Blue Jays blew a 6-3 lead and ended up falling 7-6. Starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi put up 4.1 innings with five earned on nine hits.
For the Wednesday matchup the Blue Jays will send out Alek Manoah. Over six starts so far Manoah is 1-1 with a 4.88 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 31.1 innings. Manoah is 26-10 with a 2.81 career ERA over 57 starts.
Boston Red Sox
Over on the Red Sox’ side, they got a solo homer from Alex Verdugo in the ninth for the walk-off win Monday. In game two Boston scored in all but two innings on the way to 14 team hits. Tanner Houck went 6.0 innings in the start with six earned on six hits and three walks.
It’ll be Nick Pivetta in the starting role for the Sox on Wednesday. Over his five starts this year Pivetta is 1-2 with a 5.11 ERA and 28 Ks in 24.2 innings of work. Pivetta is 41-52 with a 5.02 ERA in 163 career games (141 starts).
The Jays are 4-1 in their last five Wednesday games and 23-10 in their last 33 road games versus a right-handed starter. The under is 4-0-1 in Toronto’s last five Wednesday games.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are 4-1 in their last five in game three of a series and 14-6 in their last 20 on grass. Boston is 0-4 in the last four Wednesday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with the Blue Jays here. Pivetta needs a bounce-back start on the other side as well. In his last three outings combined, Pivetta has 13 earned runs in 14.2 innings on 17 hits and six walks. Boston would really benefit from a quality outing from Pivetta. In Tuesday’s game two, Boston had one rough inning (the fifth) but kept the Blue Jays off the scoreboard otherwise. Toronto’s going to need a much better all-around effort in game three and I think they’ll get it.
