The Toronto Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday in the third game of a four-game set at the Rogers Centre. The Red Sox took the opener in decisive fashion on Monday, crushing the Blue Jays by a score of 14-1, while the Blue Jays answered back with a win of their own in game two on Tuesday, 7-3. <\/p>\n
Boston Red Sox (47-53) at Toronto Blue Jays (52-49)<\/strong>
\nDate: Wednesday, July 23, 2014<\/strong>
\nTime: 7:07 p.m. ET<\/strong>
\nVenue: Rogers Centre<\/strong>
\nCity: Toronto, Ontario, Canada<\/strong>
\nO\/U Odds: 8.5<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Toronto -115, Boston -105<\/strong>
\nPitching Matchup: RH Clay Buchholz (5-5, 5.46 ERA) at RH R.A. Dickey (7-10, 3.95 ERA)<\/strong>
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Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has been a real thorn in the side of the Blue Jays\u2019 pitching staff in this series, as Big Papi has homered three times in a two-day span north of the border. He\u2019ll look to continue his hot-hitting ways on Wednesday against R.A. Dickey.<\/p>\n
Dickey\u2019s first start back from the All Star break was a forgettable one. In seven innings of work against the Texas Rangers, Dickey surrendered five runs on six hits, giving up two big flys in the process.<\/p>\n
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While that poor outing may have come at the Rogers Centre, Dickey has actually fared better in his home ballpark than he has on the road, despite its hitter-friendly confines. Dickey has one start against the Red Sox under his belt this season. In it, he allowed one run on five hits in 6 1\/3 innings of work, striking out six and not walking a single batter.
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\nClay Buchholz counters for the Red Sox. He went into the break on a high, firing a complete-game shutout in a win over the Houston Astros in which he struck out 12 batters. His first game back from the break was less memorable, as he allowed four runs on 10 hits in six innings of work against the Kansas City Royals.<\/p>\nIn his lone start against the Blue Jays this season, Buchholz allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings of work in a 7-6 Red Sox win at the Rogers Centre.<\/p>\n
The Blue Jays carry the better record into this contest, but it\u2019s the Red Sox who have been the hotter team of late. They\u2019ve also enjoyed seeing Buchholz take to the mound in Toronto, as the righty has had the Blue Birds\u2019 number, helping the Red Sox to wins in each of his last nine starts north of the border.<\/p>\n
Additionally, both pitchers should be able to hold their own against a pair of lineups that aren\u2019t at the top of their games right now.<\/p>\n
The Blue Jays are 1-6 in Dickey\u2019s last seven starts, and they are 1-10 in their last 11 games when playing the third game of a series.<\/p>\n
The under is 12-2 in Dickey\u2019s last 14 starts when pitching in the third game of a series, and it is 4-1 in his last five starts against A.L. East opponents.<\/p>\n