Red Sox-Blue Jays Preview

If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Sunday when the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays meet at Rogers Centre. The Red Sox will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka in this game. Matsuzaka has a 15-2 record and a 2.77 ERA this season. Starting this game for the Blue Jays will be AJ Burnett. The righthander has a 4.43 ERA to go along with a 16-8 record this season. NewBodog oddsmakers currently have the Red Sox listed as 145-moneyline favorites versus the Blue Jays, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Vernon Wells smacked two home runs and Jesse Litsch tossed a combined four-hit shutout, as the Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox 11-0 on Saturday. The Blue Jays won that game as +150 underdogs, while the 11 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (9). Wells finished 4-for-6 at the plate with three RBIs, and Lyle Overbay also drove in three runs for the Blue Jays. Litsch improved to 9-7 with the win. Jon Lester lasted just 2 1-3 innings after giving up seven runs off eight hits in the loss. Oddsmakers had the Red Sox favored at -170. Team records: Boston: 74-55 SU Toronto: 67-62 SU Boston most recently: When playing on Sunday are 6-4 Before playing NY Yankees are 5-5 After playing Toronto are 5-5 After a loss are 7-3 Toronto most recently: When playing on Sunday are 8-2 Before playing Tampa Bay are 4-6 After playing Boston are 8-2 After a win are 6-4 A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games Boston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto Toronto is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Boston Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Toronto's last 16 games at home Next up: Boston at NY Yankees, Tuesday, August 26 Toronto at Tampa Bay, Tuesday, August 26