AL East rivals will battle it out in a series in hopes of gaining ground on the Rays and Yankees.
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
Boston failed to pick up any ground on the first place Yankees, splitting a four-game series in the Bronx, as the team sits six games back in the divisional race. “We’re leaving here with a good taste in our mouths,” reliever Daniel Bard said. “We didn’t move up, but to stay where you’re at is kind of an accomplishment.” The Red Sox have won seven of their last 11 road games and are 22-16 away from Fenway Park since May 22. The bullpen has been a major strength over the last 13 games, posting a 1.32 ERA and holding opponents to a .144 average. The club has posted a solid 8-4 record this year on artificial turf (+480), but is still a dismal 26-34 over the last three seasons (-880). Boston has also compiled a winning 20-16 mark against left-handed starters this season (+110), averaging 5.5 runs per game and hitting for a combined .271 average.
Continue reading “Tuesday MLB Preview – Red Sox at Blue Jays”
Boston will try to salvage a split in this four-game series after dropping the last two contests, including a 7-2 defeat last night on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. “This was a huge opportunity for us, trying to gain ground on these guys and Tampa Bay,” said third baseman Adrian Beltre. “But unfortunately it didn’t work out the way we wanted.” The Red Sox are now seven games back of the Yankees and 4.5 away in the Wild Card race. The club is now an even 4-4 this month (-340) and 38-25 in August the last three years (+780). Boston has also slipped up against divisional foes in 2010, posting a 21-22 record (-530), with the total being 24-17 O/U in those games. The banged up ball club did receive some encouraging news over the weekend, as second baseman Dustin Pedroia (left foot) has plans of returning to the lineup on August 17
Boston suffered a 5-2 loss to the Yankees in the second game of this four-game showdown at Yankee Stadium. The Red Sox have still won eight of their last 12 games and 10 of their last 16 overall. The team has had its trouble against tonight’s opponent recently, dropping 10 of the last 14 meetings since August 23, 2009 and are 5-15 versus the Yankees since August 6, 2009. Since 2003, the Red Sox trail 80-74 in the series, but have outscored the Bronx Bombers by a 859-828 margin. Boston is 52-32 in night games this season (+870) and the total is 45-35 O/U in those contests. Third baseman Adrian Beltre will likely lead the offensive charge, coming into tonight’s contest with a 13-game hitting streak. The team is hoping outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury can get things going in front of a national audience, as he’s hitless in 12 at-bats since returning from the disabled list.
Boston picked up a 6-2 victory in the final game of a four-game series against the Cleveland Indians and now will head off for a 10-day, 10-game road trip to New York, Toronto and Texas. We’re probably going on as it looks right now the most important road trip of the season, most important 10 games of the season,” said second baseman Bill Hall. The Red Sox are in third place in the AL East division and sit 5.5 games back of tonight’s opponent. In losing first baseman Kevin Youkilis for the year, the club will be leaning on All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre more than ever. He is hitting .336 with 20 home runs and 75 RBIs. The Red Sox are 20-21 against the division this year (-570) and 106-86 versus the AL East over the last three years (+230). Boston brings a 3-1 record into this contest as a road underdog of +125 to +150 this season (+320).
Minnesota captured a 2-1 victory in the third game of this four-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field, overcoming a blown save in the ninth from new closer Matt Capps. “An exciting baseball game,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Well pitched by both sides.” Catcher Joe Mauer was back in the lineup for a second straight day, after missing two games with a shoulder injury. The win last night snapped a four-game losing streak for the Twins against the Rays, which was their longest losing streak against Tampa Bay since August 2001. The club is 21-18 in day games this season (-50) and the total is 17-18 O/U in those contests. Minnesota has also played just three games this season in domes due to moving into Target Field from the Metrodome this year, posting a 1-2 mark in this series thus far (-40). The Twins are still a dismal 13-18 against AL East opponents.
Los Angeles lost for the ninth time in 12 games and could possibly drop below .500 for the first time since June 2. The game also marked the move of Torii Hunter going from his regular position of center field to right. “It was different, but I was still in the game in the outfield,” Hunter said. The Angels have been unable to collect back-to-back victories since June 16-17 and are 7-10 since the All-Star break. Los Angeles is an even 1-1 this month (-20) and is 33-26 in August the past three years (-420). The club will be a road favorite of -125 to -150 for just the fourth time this year (1-2, -170), but has excelled in his role the past three seasons, producing a 29-16 record (+620). Despite the 6-3 loss in the series opener, the team is 10-4 in their last 14 games in Baltimore.
Toronto has captured the first two games of this series and the offense has managed to generate eight runs in each contest. “We’re doing a good job offensively,” Jose Bautista said. “We’re coming up with big hits when we need them and solo shots here and there.” He hit his MLB-best 33rd home run last night in the ninth inning, as the Blue Jays have hit 23 of their 167 home runs during their current 8-3 stretch. The pitching staff has held its own recently, ranking second in the American League with a 3.05 ERA since the All-Star break. The team is now 5-3 against the Yankees this season and have won eight of their last 13 meetings dating back to last year. Toronto stands at 22-16 versus division opponents (+1,010) and the total is 17-20 O/U in those contests.
New York pushed its divisional lead to two games with Saturday’s 5-4 road victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field. Both games in the series have been decided by a single run, with Tampa winning 3-2 on Friday night. “It feels like a playoff,” said second baseman Robinson Cano. “The fans get excited when they get an out and they’re in every pitch.” Newly acquired Lance Berkman went 0-for-4 in his debut with the Bronx Bombers, as he got his first taste of a pennant race this year. “It was definitely sore of a playoff-type atmosphere,” said Berkman. The Yankees own the best record in baseball at 66-37 (+760) and the total is 52-47 O/U in all games. The lines maker has placed them as a road favorite of -125 to -150 this afternoon, with the team tallying a 10-6 record in that situation in 2010 (+210) and compiling a 31-28 mark the last three years (-720).
Detroit fell 5-4 in the second game of a three-game set in Boston, as the team is now 11-9 versus the AL East division this season. The Tigers were unable to hold a 4-0 lead that was created with the help of first baseman Miguel Cabrera’s 26th home run of the year. The bullpen came into Saturday’s contest with a 20-11 record and 3.57 ERA through the club’s first 102 games. With yesterday’s loss, the team is now 24-19 in day games (+330) with the total being 17-23 O/U in those contests. Detroit is 10-7 when playing on Sunday during the current campaign (+290) and 39-30 over the last three seasons (+470). In those games, the offense has produced 4.5 runs per game and hit for a combined .270 mark, which is just a point lower than the team’s season average (.271).
