Blue Jays vs. Red Sox prediction and odds for Tuesday, May 2 (Back Blue Jays in Boston)

Is Alex Verdugo the most clutch player in the MLB? Because it’s starting to feel like he’s the most clutch player in the MLB.

Last night, he hit his third walk-off of the season for the Boston Red Sox, a leadoff homer in the ninth inning to beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-5. Now, the Red Sox are just 2.5 games behind Toronto for third in the crowded AL East, as the Jays are 18-11. 

For Game 2 of this four-game AL East series, the Blue Jays will send Yusei Kikuchi to the mound against Tanner Houck for the Red Sox. Kikuchi is 4-0 on the season with an even 3.00 ERA in five starts while Houck carries in a record of 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA. 

Let’s take a look at the odds for Toronto and Boston at Fenway Park. 

Blue Jays vs. Red Sox odds, run line and total

Blue Jays vs. Red Sox prediction and pick

Alex Verdugo is having a very strong season so far and a lot of that has to do with his late-game heroics. He has a solid .881 OPS with five homers, 18 RBI and the three walk-off hits already.

I don’t know if you could quite call it a breakout year, Verdugo has been very strong before, but this could definitely be his best season in the majors. It’s nothing on the level of what Matt Chapman is doing this year, turning into the best hitter in baseball out of nowhere. 

Verdugo however, might have to save his heroics for late in the game again today with Kikuchi the lefty on the mound. Verdugo only has a .623 OPS against lefties this year with just one extra base hit, a double, in 46 plate appearances.

The Red Sox lineup is loaded with left-handed hitters, Rafael Devers, Verdugo, Masataka Yoshida, Triston Casas, however, they’ll need their righties to step up against Kikuchi. 

I don’t think that their lineup sets up well against Kikuchi who for his career is only allowing a .654 OPS to left-handed hitters.

I also think that the Toronto offense will be very strong because Chapman and Bo Bichette are two of the hottest hitters in baseball with OPSs over 1.200 for the past week. Bichette had five hits from the leadoff spot yesterday. 

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change