Blue Jays vs. Red Sox April 19 Prediction & Best Bets

Toronto was the odds-on favorite to win the American League East before the start of the season and so far we have not seen a lot to change the opinion that the Blue Jays are the best team in the division.

They split on the road against the Yankees last week before winning a home series against Oakland over the weekend. Now they are going to Boston for the first time this season.

Boston has already been to New York, where they lost the opening series of the season. This is the Red Sox’s first home series against a division opponent so there is going to be some juice to this one even though it is still mid-April.

The Red Sox lost yesterday in their annual Patriot’s Day morning game, so they will be eager to open this series with a win.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox April 19 Betting Odds, Starting Pitchers & Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Game Matchup: Toronto Blue Jays (6-4, 1st in the AL East) vs. Boston Red Sox (5-5, tied for 2nd in the AL East)
• Venue & Location: Fenway Park (Boston, Massachusetts)
• Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2022
• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Blue Jays vs. Red Sox: MLB Network

Probable Pitchers for Blue Jays vs. Red Sox

• Toronto Blue Jays: Yusei Kikuchi (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
• Boston Red Sox: Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 4.50 ERA)

Blue Jays vs. Red Sox Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Toronto Blue Jays +120, Boston Red Sox -142
• Over/Under: OVER 9 (-118), UNDER 9 (-104)
• Run Line: Toronto Blue Jays +1.5 (-164), Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+136)

Odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook.

Big Bats Leading the Way for Blue Jays

Toronto is off to a solid start. Even though they invested in their pitching this offseason, it has been the bats that have led the way with Toronto second in the Majors in homers so far this season (heading into Monday action).

Leading the way is 1B Vlad Guerrero Jr. who has five homers through the first 10 games. They are going to be leaning on him even more than usual in this series with OF Teoscar Hernandez out with an injury. Hernandez just might be the most underrated player in the game and he is a big part of that lineup, protecting Vlad in the clean-up spot in the order. He also led the team in RBIs last season.

The Blue Jays also lost starting catcher Danny Janssen to injury but seem to have found something in lefty-swinging Zach Collins, who they acquired just before the season started.

What’s The “Story” With Boston?

Boston is not deep in pitching but they were supposed to have a strong offense, made stronger by the addition of Trevor Story.

Sure, he was moving from SS to 2B but the power we saw at Coors Field was supposed to play in the American League, especially in Fenway Park. That has not been the case and with the pitching slumping Boston might be in some real trouble.

3B Rafael Devers and OF Alex Verdugo are off to strong starts but for the Red Sox to be competitive in the AL East they need more from their lineup. More than half the time they are scoring four or fewer runs. Their pitching is not good enough or deep enough to win that way.

The Mound Matchup

Starter Yusei Kikuchi was a great depth add for the Jays after the lockout. The lefty had some success in Seattle but the expectations were probably a little too high. As a #4 or #5 he can be really good.

The Blue Jays have not quite seen that yet, but they are looking for him to balance things out, especially with Hyun-Jin Ryu struggling early on. Kikuchi’s first start with his new team was forgettable. He did not last even four innings in a 4-0 loss to the Yankees.

Nathan Eovaldi has always had the “arm talent” but consistency has eluded him. Last year was his best in the Majors and with Chris Sale hurt and Eduardo Rodriguez lost in free agency he was suddenly the opening day starter this season.

He is not at that level, but someone has to try and lead the rotation until Sale is ready to go. Eovaldi has been just okay so far this season and giving up a couple of homers in each start is worrisome, especially with the powerful Jays coming to town.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox April 19 Prediction and Best Bets

Best Bets: Toronto Blue Jays ML +125 / Over 9.5

The Jays have not been as excellent as expected to start but most power rankings have this team as a top-five team in the Majors. The Red Sox appear to be a tier or two below that.

Looking at this matchup I like the Toronto side. With the starting pitchers there is probably no significant advantage either way so getting the better payoff with the Jays is key. Toronto also has the advantage of the day off for a bullpen that has been worked pretty hard so far too.

I especially like the over on Tuesday. Kikuchi has just one career start at Fenway Park, and it didn’t go great, as he allowed five runs in less than five innings.

Eovaldi has just one win in eight career starts against Toronto, with an ERA of 4.56. I don’t expect either to get much further than five innings in this one as the score is likely to go back and forth as balls leave the park.

At the end of the game, Toronto’s high leverage guys like closer Jordan Romano and Adam Cimber can be an advantage late where I expect the starters to get hit.

The Blue Jays are the more complete team, and they will show it even though they are missing a couple of lineup regulars.

Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays 7, Boston Red Sox 5