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The LA Dodgers vs. Boston Red Sox series begins Friday July 25 with LA owning a 60-43 record but playing under .500 baseball of late while Boston is 55-49 and winning 60% of their last ten. The Dodgers have owned this series recently, going 7-1 but that record could be a bit deceptive as LA was stellar last season while Boston was not. This record dates back to 2019.
Power Rankings
Blue Jays
It's nearly August and the Blue Jays are in first place, atop the only division in the majors with four teams over .500 despite a run differential that suggests they're six games worse. It's beyond time to take them seriously. To continue surpassing expectations, they'll need to continue their brand of ball, which centers around not striking out. Toronto's 17.4% strikeout rate is the lowest in the majors by more than a percentage point and would be the lowest by a team for a season since the 2017 Astros. The Jays put pressure on teams by putting the ball in play, and it's working.
Courtesy of ESPN
After another series victory over the division rival Yankees and an 11-4 thrashing of the Tigers, the Toronto Blue Jays made one thing abundantly clear: they’re legit.
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Toronto isn’t dominating opponents (their +39 run differential ranks 12th in baseball), but they’re finding ways to win, and doing it consistently. The Blue Jays, whose 10-game win streak earlier this month propelled them to the top of the AL East, have won 17 of their last 21 matchups and are nearly unbeatable at home — the formula for a 4.5 division lead and the best record in the American League.
Courtesy of EmpireSportsMedia
Orioles
Besides unloading impending free agents for young talent at the deadline, the Orioles' other significant second-half move with an eye toward 2026 could be promoting top prospect Samuel Basallo to the majors. The towering catcher (6-foot-4) will likely primarily play first base and DH in the majors with Adley Rutschman expected to return from injury soon, but Basallo's bat is the priority. He has gigantic power that has clicked this season at Triple-A Norfolk, where he's hitting .264 with 19 home runs and a .974 OPS in 62 games at just 20 years old. It shouldn't be long before he's in Baltimore
Courtesy of ESPN
Blue Jays vs. Orioles Series Preview
This series presents an opportunity where Toronto could be favored by -180 or less being that this one is being played in Baltimore.
These teams have literally alternated wins and losses throughout their last ten games with Toronto winning the last game ahead of Monday's start to this series.
Seven of the last eight games of this series have seen nine or more runs scored. Toronto had scored six or more runs in six of their last eight games ahead of this series (not including Sunday's game, which had not yet been played at the time of this publication).
Baltimore just scored 18 runs, shutting out the Rockies on Saturday. They've scored four or more runs in five of their last seven games leading up to this series.
Monday - Chris Bassitt allowed three hits and four runs – three earned – without walking a batter and striking out eight across 7 1/3 innings to earn the victory 8-4 against the Yankees on Wednesday. He tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings and got the win in the Blue Jays’ 4-0 victory over the Giants.
We could see some regression here especially being that Bassitt has had some issues against Orioles batters in the past. Gunnar Henderson has two home runs and 5 RBIs against Bassitt in just ten appearances.
Ramon Urias is 4-for-8 against him with two RBIs. Ramon Laureano has three RBIs vs. Bassitt in three appearances.
Zach Eflin yielded two runs over five innings on Wednesday in a no-decision against the Guardians. Eflin allowed six runs with four strikeouts over three innings in a loss against the Yankees his previous start way back on June 21 before going onto the injury list with a back issue.
Do consider the Over here but we'd probably avoid the Blue Jays with Bassitt starting. Make sure to monitor official picks just prior to game time.
Wednesday
Jose Berríos picked up his seventh victory of the season on Friday, limiting the Tigers to just two runs on five hits over six strong innings. He had a win in his previous start.
There is the potential for regression here as he carries a 3.83 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 108/44 K/BB ratio (127 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Orioles in Baltimore.
Dylan Carlson has two RBIs against him in three appearances. Cedric Mullins has seven RBIs and two homers versus Berrios in 31 appearances (.290). Ryan O'Hearn has 12 hits in 37 at bats (.324). Tyler O'Neill is 5 for 12 with 4 RBIs and 2 home runs (.417) against him.
Toronto Blue Jays career statistics vs. Dean Kremer (.286) with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. having five home runs against Kremer in 31 appearances (.355). He also has 11 hits and 11 RBIs.
Kremer allowed six hits and five runs and with walks and five strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision against the Rockies on Friday. He has not had a loss in his last three, which could mean the potential for regression, especially versus these Blue Jays hitters.
Toronto and the Over should be considered here. Make sure to monitor official picks just prior to game time.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
