AL East Rivals Open Second Half
The Toronto Blue Jays fired manager Charlie Montoyo last week, installing John Schneider as interim manager. The former bench coach has helped the team go 4-1 since the transition and the Jays have won five of six overall to turn around a dismal stretch in early July. They’ll try to carry that momentum through the All-Star break with a visit to Fenway Park to face the sinking Boston Red Sox on Friday.
Let’s dive into the latest MLB news, injury reports, and MLB odds for Blue Jays vs Red Sox. We have plenty of MLB picks and predictions.
Resurgent Blue Jays
Schneider’s second game at the helm was a disappointing 3-1 loss to a bad Kansas City Royals team that was missing 10 players due to their unvaccinated status. The Blue Jays steamrolled the Royals the next three days to race into the break with their longest winning streak since an eight-game run that ended June 2.
“We feel good right now, winning three in a row,” Schneider said after a 4-2 victory Sunday before the break. “I think the break will be good for everyone over the course of a long season. I think it will be extra good for a few guys. You try to carry over a little momentum into the second half, but we know that we can get better in every aspect. I’m looking forward to it.”
Toronto’s bats, up and down for much of the season, have started to wake up a bit. The team is batting .320 with 10 home runs over its last seven games and enters the second half ranked third in the majors in OPS behind the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Something to consider when betting online or analyzing the MLB odds for this one.
That lineup will take aim at Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi, who allowed three runs – all on solo homers – in 11.2 innings over back-to-back starts vs the Blue Jays in April.
Red Sox Stumbled into Break
The All-Star break came at a great time for a Boston Red Sox team that needed a reset after losing two at Yankee Stadium last weekend by a combined margin of 27-3. The humiliating setbacks included the loss of left-hander Chris Sale to a broken pinkie, and it was all enough to potentially turn the team into sellers at the trade deadline.
A strong showing this weekend vs Toronto Blue Jays, which leads Boston by two games for the last playoff spot in the American League, might alter that outlook. And the Red Sox need to show something against a quality division opponent – they’re 12-26 against the AL East and 0-10-1 in their 11 series vs divisional foes.
Manager Alex Cora is one person that feels as if he has the horses already in the stable.
“We need help from the people here,” he said Sunday. “It really doesn’t matter. We can talk about [trades] or whatever. The guys that are here are capable and they have to be better.”
While the pitching staff was being bludgeoned by the Yankees last weekend to complete a 1-6 road trip, the lineup was wrapping up a stretch in which it hit .194 with a putrid .231 on-base percentage. Not a lot going right in Beantown, and your MLB picks at the sportsbook should take that into account.
Blue Jays vs Red Sox Head-to-Head
Toronto has claimed wins in all three series this year and four in a row dating to last season. Boston has been held to two runs or fewer in six of the 10 matchups in 2022.
Blue Jays vs Red Sox Game Information
- Game: Blue Jays (50-43) vs Red Sox (48-45)
- Location: Fenway Park, Boston
- Day/Time: Friday, July 22, 7:10 p.m. ET
- Blue Jays vs Red Sox Live stream: MLB.tv
Blue Jays vs Red Sox Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Toronto Blue Jays K. Gausman -R |
-1½ +145 | -120 | 8½-120o | 4½-105o / 4½-125u |
| Boston Red Sox N. Eovaldi -R |
+1½ -165 | +110 | 8½Evu | 3½-140o / 3½+110u |
Blue Jays vs Red Sox Prediction
Kevin Gausman is likely to start for Toronto, which could keep Boston in its doldrums. The right-hander has been brilliant against the Red Sox this year, limiting them to one earned run in 21 innings while striking out 27.
Watch for confirmation on his start and consider the manner in which these teams went into the break. Perhaps some time off and a return home will ignite Cora’s crew, but we’d side with Gausman and the energized Jays in this one.
