The Toronto Blue Jays deserve credit for somehow staying above .500 this season despite sharing a division with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. <\/p>\n
MLB Betting \u2013 Blue Jays vs Red Sox Preview & Pick<\/strong> Toronto Blue Jays (74-73 through September 12)<\/strong> They remind me of the pre-breakout Rays, loaded with high draft picks and blue-chip prospects.<\/p>\n One of those former high picks is Ricky Romero, who has blossomed into a No. 1 Starter and All-Star this season. Opponents are batting just .217 off him this season. It does, however, appear that Romero is tiring. He\u2019s allowed at least three runs and walked at least three batters in four straight starts.<\/p>\n Romero also has a brutal track record against Boston. He\u2019s 3-6 with a 7.63 ERA and nine homers allowed over 12 career starts versus the Red Sox. He\u2019ll need some run support on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The way the Jays have swung the bats lately, he might get it. Jose Bautista has obviously duplicated his magic this year but the hottest recent story out of Toronto is the play of Canadian rookie Brett Lawrie. Batting .312 with nine homers, 23 RBI, six steals and an OPS well over 1.000 through 36 games, he\u2019s been the team\u2019s best hitter since he got called up. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n Boston Red Sox (85-61 through September 12)<\/strong> When will the bleeding stop in Boston? The losing streak sat at five games through Monday night and, after getting swept by the Rays over the weekend, the Red Sox have made the Wild Card race interesting.<\/p>\n How confident can they feel sending John Lackey to the hill on Wednesday? He\u2019s lost three straight starts and allowed five or more runs in each of those outings. The last time he faced the Jays, they rocked him for 7 runs in 2.1 innings. Yikes.<\/p>\n Over is 15-5-1 in TOR last 21 overall. It certainly looks like Thursday\u2019s game will be high-scoring. I wanted to pick the Red Sox given that they have to break their slump sooner or later and that they own Romero. But Lackey is just so…darned…bad. He has a 6.35 ERA at home this season. I can\u2019t see Boston winning with him pitching the way he is. I\u2019ll wager on the better overall pitcher: Romero.<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Wednesday, September 14, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>Fenway Park, Boston, MA
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>RSN, NESN
\nToronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox Betting Lines from BetOnline.com<\/strong>
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\nRicky Romero (14-10, 3.01)<\/p>\n
\nJohn Lackey (12-12, 6.30)<\/p>\nMLB Trends<\/h3>\n
\nTOR are 9-1 in Romeros last 10 starts.
\nUnder is 5-2-2 in Romeros last 9 road starts.
\nOver is 7-2 in Lackeys last 9 starts on grass.
\nOver is 8-3 in Lackeys last 11 starts overall.
\nTOR are 3-9 in Romeros last 12 starts vs. BOS.
\nOver is 6-2 in Romeros last 8 starts vs. BOS.<\/p>\nMLB Free pick: <\/h3>\n