MLB Odds for September 13: Toronto Jays vs Boston Red Sox
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
by Frank Martin
It’s panic time in Boston. Even David Ortiz is biting his fingernails. A week ago, the Toronto Blue Jays sent the Boston Red Sox down the wrong path by winning three of four games at the Rogers Centre. The two teams begin a two-game set at Fenway Park on Tuesday with Boston clinging to a three-game lead in the AL wild-card standings.
Boston starts Tim Wakefield, whose quest for career win No. 200 has become as frustrating as Boston’s failures to close in on a playoff berth. Toronto, enjoying its role of spoiler, starts Brandon Morrow.
- Toronto Blue Jays (74-73) vs. Boston Red Sox (85-61)
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: 7:07 p.m. RSN, NESN
The Red Sox have opened as 142-moneyline favorites on Bet Online Sportsbook’s Live MLB Baseball Odds.
Brandon Morrow (9-10, 5.12 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Tim Wakefield (6-6, 5.03 ERA).
These two pitchers hooked up a week ago in Toronto and neither fared well nor figured in the decision. Morrow is 1-2 with a 9.70 ERA in his career against Boston. Boston roughed him up last time by scoring eight runs in eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, but when Boston’s bullpen imploded he was spared the loss. Morrow is just 1-5 in his last seven starts and his strikeout continues to mount, but Boston smacked two homers off the hard thrower last week.
Wakefield’s pursuit of win No. 200 is clearly a secondary issue now. The knuckleballer allowed five runs in five innings against the Rays last week but left with an 8-5 lead. After getting a round of congratulatory handshakes, Wakefield watched Daniel Bard and the once-reliable bullpen blow the lead. Still, Wakefield has not pitched a solid game since late July when he blew a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning against the White Sox and took the loss. Boston has lost his last five appearances, and this will be Wakefield’s eighth attempt at win No. 200.
Nothing’s going right for the Red Sox. Boston’s bullpen has allowed 18 earned runs in its last 21 1/3 innings. The starting pitching is in shambles and the once-powerhouse offense has looked worn out. Ortiz said it certainly is panic time in Beantown as the Rays have trimmed a nine-game deficit down to three games in just over two weeks. With a big four-game set ahead with Tampa Bay later in the week, it is imperative the Red Sox turn things around quickly. They have lost five in a row and nine of 11.
Toronto got back to the .500 mark in the series against the Red Sox at the Rogers Centre last week. The Blue Jays have won seven of 16 matchups against the Red Sox this season. Toronto won the final two games of a three-game series at Baltimore over the weekend.
Edwin Encarnacion is questionable for Tuesday’s game with a shoulder injury. Encarnacion has lit up Red Sox pitching this season and stroked a bases-clearing double to break open an 8-8 tie and lift Toronto to an 11-10 win over the Red Sox last week. Shortstop Yunel Escobar is also questionable after getting hit with a pitch on his elbow on Saturday.
Red Sox righthander Josh Beckett threw off a mound on Monday and hopes to pitch this week. Boston’s starting rotation has lasted a total of 21 innings in the past five starts, all losses, allowing 21 runs. Kevin Youkilis (hip) hopes to return to the lineup Tuesday.
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boston red sox - brandon morrow - daniel bard - david ortiz - edwin encarnacion - fenway park - josh beckett - kevin youkilis - rogers centre - tim wakefield
