7:07 pm
April 26

Red Sox @ Blue Jays

Who will WIN this matchup?

Boston Red Sox (7-10)

@ Toronto Blue Jays (11-6)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Pivetta (BOS): 0-3; 10.03 ERA

Gausman (TOR) 1-1; 2.89 ERA

 

Current odds:

Boston Red Sox: (+161)

Toronto Blue Jays: (-192)

 

• The starting line-up for the Red Sox is as follows:

 

• The starting line-up for the Blue Jays is as follows:

 

• Boston Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta will try to reverse his early-season struggles Tuesday night, but he faces a tough task in a return matchup against the host Toronto Blue Jays. Pivetta, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, was the losing pitcher in the Blue Jays’ 6-1 victory at Boston on Wednesday. His mound opponent Tuesday will be right-hander Kevin Gausman, who allowed one run in eight-plus innings Thursday in Toronto’s 3-2 win in the rubber match of a three-game series at Boston.

• Boston will need a good performance from Pivetta (0-3, 10.03 ERA) after losing the opener of the four-game series 6-2 Monday night due to Bo Bichette’s eighth-inning grand slam. Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi pitched seven innings on Monday, allowing two runs on solo homers. Toronto starter Jose Berrios gave up two runs in seven-plus innings.

• All five runs Pivetta allowed in his four innings on Wednesday came in the second inning. The outing continued a poor opening to the season in which Pivetta hasn’t gone more than 5 2/3 innings in an outing and hasn’t held an opponent to fewer than four runs. Pivetta pitched scoreless innings in the third and fourth on Wednesday. Pitching coach Dave Bush helped him make adjustments that improved the velocity on his fastball and the consistency of his curveball.

• Pivetta is 1-3 with a 6.28 ERA in eight career starts against Toronto. Gausman is 5-8 with a 4.25 ERA in 21 career games (16 starts) vs. Boston.

• Gausman (1-1, 2.89 ERA) was looking for his second career complete game but was removed after a leadoff single in the ninth.

• Toronto put Cavan Biggio on the COVID-related injured list on Monday and promoted right-hander Bowden Francis from Triple-A Buffalo.

• Boston put right-handers Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck on the restricted list, apparently because they are unvaccinated, preventing them from entering Canada.

• The Red Sox added right-handers Tyler Danish and John Schreiber as roster replacements. Danish allowed Bichette’s grand slam.

• Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki was reinstated from the COVID-related IL, and catcher Connor Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester.

• Cora, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, was not with the team on Monday. Bench coach Will Venable remained the acting manager.

6/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Toronto Blue Jays