The Boston Red Sox are heading into their Wednesday night game in Toronto aiming to salvage their series against the Blue Jays. This matchup follows a challenging stretch for Boston, which has seen the team lose four consecutive games, abruptly ending a remarkable streak where they had previously won 27 of 30 games. This earlier success marked the 10th time in MLB history a team achieved such a record, and notably, they were the first to do so starting with a record more than 10 games below .500.
Boston's recent offensive performance has dipped, with the team averaging .221 during their current slide. However, key players continue to contribute. Ceddanne Rafaela has been a consistent performer, leading the club with 54 hits since June 24, when the team began turning their season around from 15 ½ games out of first place. Rafaela is slashing .297/.316/.516 over that period, showing improved batted-ball metrics, timely hitting, and reduced strikeout rates. He hit his fourth home run of the month on Tuesday and has had seven games with at least two bases. Rafaela currently holds a WAR of 5.2, which ranks seventh in the league.
Another notable player is Wilyer Abreu, who recently earned AL Player of the Week honors. Abreu also hit a home run in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays, his fifth of the month. Abreu's clutch hitting, combined with his Gold Glove-caliber defense, has been instrumental in Boston's push for a postseason spot. He is tied for 14th overall in WAR at 4.7. Abreu has been particularly effective with runners in scoring position, ranking third overall in August with 11 RBIs.
The Red Sox offense will face José Soriano, who has been adjusting to his new team after being acquired at the trade deadline. Soriano has struggled with command this season, and despite generating swings and misses, he has been vulnerable to hard contact throughout his career. Abreu, batting from the left side against the right-handed Soriano, has found success, recording two RBIs in two previous plate appearances against him.
Despite the recent setbacks, betting analysts suggest that the Red Sox might be undervalued on the moneyline against the Blue Jays, especially with pitcher Ranger Suarez on the mound. However, attention is also being drawn to player prop markets, with Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu identified as reliable hitters to target for better odds on prop bets. Specifically, Ceddanne Rafaela Over 1.5 bases (+130) and Wilyer Abreu to record an RBI (+155) are highlighted as potential wagers.