I did not make my bet because of this story. I made my bet before this story was even published by covers.
But covers gives alot of good reason why toronto is a good play.
Huh?
The Blue Jays have dropped six straight road games, falling to last place in the AL East while the Red Sox lead the division and have won four of their last five. Plus, Beckett is 6-0 with a 2.72 ERA and 35 strikeouts to just nine walks. He's also allowed just one homer after serving up 36 dingers last year.
But Toronto always plays its divisional rival tough. It has won 12 of their last 20 meetings, six of the last eight contests, and three of the five games with the Red Sox this season. And the Jays have really had their way with Beckett.
He's lost his last four starts against Toronto and is 1-2 with a 6.21 ERA over his last five. He hasn’t faired any better inside the domed roof of the Rogers Center, either. In his two starts in Toronto, Beckett is 0-1 with a whopping 9.00 ERA, allowing 12 runs in 12 innings including seven home runs.
“The big problem for Beckett last year was his location in the strike zone,” says
David Malinsky of Covers Experts. “So far this season it has been a completely different story… He really is on top of his game right now, which will challenge the Blue Jays much more than the Beckett that they dominated in 2006.”
Last year, Toronto ended a five-game slump in early September by taking two of three games against Boston. This season, the Blue Jays put an end to another five-game skid by winning back-to-back games in Fenway Park on April 23 and 24.
"It's nice to have to face Boston every time you're trying to get yourself out of a streak," joked Toronto manager John Gibbons on Sunday.
All joking aside, this is a very important series for the Blue Jays. The team is currently in last place in the American League East with a 13-18 record and must avoid falling 10 ½ games back of the first-place Red Sox this week. They've had a day off since returning from Texas on Sunday and will remain at the Rogers Center for a nine-game home stand, beginning Tuesday against Boston.
“I feel they will come out strong,” says
Scott Rickenbach of Covers Experts. “The Blue Jays have a decent lineup and they should be able to get the sticks going again. A change of scenery is good when things aren't going well. So it often helps to get back from a road trip and refocus in a ballpark that you're used to playing in.”
Toronto was at the top of the AL batting statistics since the beginning of the season but has plummeted to 13th in batting average and 11th in runs per game after disastrous series with the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians in which it was out scored 22-46 over those six games.
Thankfully for Toronto backers the Blue Jays swing a big bat against the Red Sox. In 2006, Toronto hit .302 against Boston and batted .294 versus the Red Sox the year before that. In the five games versus the BoSox this season it is hitting .262 at the plate.
Oddsmakers have the Blue Jays as +180 underdogs
Tuesday’s game. Toronto will go with right-hander Victor Zambrano, who is 0-1 this season with a 5.62 ERA in one start and six relief appearances.