MLB Betting Preview
Toronto Blue Jays (70-66) at Boston Red Sox (82-55)
Monday, 7:05 pm Eastern

Opening Line: Red Sox -210, Total 9.5 Under (-120)

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka will try and avoid losing four in a row tonight as the Red Sox host the Blue Jays.  The right-hander has struggled of late, allowing 13 runs in 18 and 1/3 innings while losing three straight.  Dice K does not have a win since August 4th.  The Red Sox still have a six game lead on New York in the American League East. 
 

Matsuzaka is 13-11 with a 3.88 ERA this season. He is 1-2 with a 6.88 ERA in his last three home starts.  He did win against Toronto 9-4 on July 14th and is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts against the Blue Jays. The Red Sox have won seven of 12 games over the Blue Jays this year, but surprisingly are only 2-4 at Fenway against them.

 

Toronto is coming off a three-game sweep over Seattle.  They have won seven of their last 10. "Everything is kind of clicking right now," pitcher A.J. Burnett said. "We're hitting, we're playing D and the pitching staff is doing a good job." Jesse Litsch (5-6, 3.40) gets the start tonight for Toronto.  Litsch gave up two runs and four hits in six innings of a 5-4 win over Oakland on Tuesday, but did not get a decision. In his only start against the Red Sox this season he gave up one run and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings to earn a 2-1 win at Fenway.

 

Here are the betting statistics for this game.  The Blue Jays are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Blue Jays are 5-1 in their last 6 overall. The Blue Jays are 4-1 in Litsch's last 5 road starts. The Blue Jays are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Boston.

 

The Red Sox are 5-1 in their last 6 games as a favorite. The Red Sox are 11-5 in their last 16 home games. The Red Sox are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. the American League East. The Red Sox are 7-3 in Matsuzaka's last 10 home starts. The Red Sox are 1-5 in Matsuzaka's last 6 starts as a favorite. The Red Sox are 0-5 in Matsuzaka's last 5 starts vs. the American League East.

 

The Under is 10-2 in the Blue Jays last 12 games as a road underdog. The Under is 16-5-1 in the Blue Jays last 22 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 19-7-1 in the Blue Jays last 27 road games. The Under is 24-9 in the Blue Jays last 33 vs. the American League East. The Under is 4-0 in Litsch's last 4 starts vs. the American League East. The Under is 7-1 in Litsch's last 8 road starts.

 

The Under is 6-1 in the Red Sox last 7 vs. the American League East. The Under is 5-1 in the Red Sox last 6 overall. The Over is 5-1 in the Red Sox last 6 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 12-4 in Matsuzaka's last 16 starts overall. The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Boston between the two teams.