<p>The Toronto Blue Jays&#8217; offence was rolling on Monday, scoring four runs in the June 26th makeup game and seven in the regularly scheduled game against the Boston Red Sox.<br />
</p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block"></div>
<p>But the offence has sputtered in the last two games, scoring three runs in Tuesday&#8217;s game and getting shutout in Wednesday&#8217;s. The beauty of the game of baseball is it&#8217;s easy to move past a poor game or two, and that&#8217;s what the Jays will look to do Thursday.</p>
<p>Bowden Francis, meanwhile, will look to continue a streak that&#8217;s seen him be one of baseball&#8217;s hottest pitchers. Over his last three stars, he&#8217;s posted a 0.82 ERA, giving up just two earned runs, while allowing a meagre five hits and two walks. Oh yeah, he&#8217;s also fanned 27 of the 75 batters he&#8217;s faced, good for a 36 percent strikeout rate.</p>
<p>It included two games against the Los Angeles Angels in which he allowed just two hits, the second of which saw him carry a no-hitter into the top of the ninth inning. It&#8217;ll be a tough test today for him, but in three relief appearances against the Red Sox he&#8217;s allowed just two hits.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>First pitch:</strong> 7:10 p.m. EST.</p>
<p><strong>TV &amp; Radio:</strong> Sportsnet, SN590.</p>
<p><strong>Odds via Bet365:</strong></p>
<p>Moneyline: TOR +120; BOS -140.<br />
Spread: TOR +1.5 -180; BOS -1.5 +150.<br />
Over/Under: o8.5 -105; u8.5 -115.</p>
<p>*Odds at the time of publishing. Odds subject to change.</p>
<h2><strong>Starting pitchers:</strong></h2>
<table style="width: 587px;">
<thead>
<tr>
<th class="align-left  fixed " style="width: 120px;" data-col="0" data-col-id="Name" data-stat="Name">Name</th>
<th class="align-left " style="width: 50px;" data-col="1" data-col-id="Team" data-stat="Team">Team</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 27px;" data-col="2" data-col-id="GS" data-stat="GS">GS</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 22px;" data-col="3" data-col-id="W" data-stat="W">W</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 18px;" data-col="4" data-col-id="L" data-stat="L">L</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 41px;" data-col="5" data-col-id="IP" data-stat="IP">IP</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 40px;" data-col="6" data-col-id="ERA" data-stat="ERA">ERA</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 50px;" data-col="7" data-col-id="xERA" data-stat="xERA">xERA</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 47px;" data-col="8" data-col-id="ERA-" data-stat="ERA-">ERA-</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 36px;" data-col="9" data-col-id="FIP" data-stat="FIP">FIP</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 55px;" data-col="10" data-col-id="WHIP" data-stat="WHIP">WHIP</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 35px;" data-col="11" data-col-id="K/9" data-stat="K/9">K/9</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 46px;" data-col="12" data-col-id="BB/9" data-stat="BB/9">BB/9</p>
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div>
</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="">
<td class="align-left fixed" style="width: 120px;" data-col-id="Name" data-stat="Name">Bowden Francis</td>
<td class="align-left" style="width: 50px;" data-col-id="Team" data-stat="Team">TOR</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 27px;" data-col-id="GS" data-stat="GS">8</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 22px;" data-col-id="W" data-stat="W">7</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 18px;" data-col-id="L" data-stat="L">3</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 41px;" data-col-id="IP" data-stat="IP">71.2</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 40px;" data-col-id="ERA" data-stat="ERA">4.02</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 50px;" data-col-id="xERA" data-stat="xERA">3.78</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 47px;" data-col-id="ERA-" data-stat="ERA-">100</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 36px;" data-col-id="FIP" data-stat="FIP">4.50</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 55px;" data-col-id="WHIP" data-stat="WHIP">1.07</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 35px;" data-col-id="K/9" data-stat="K/9">8.79</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 46px;" data-col-id="BB/9" data-stat="BB/9">2.39</td>
</tr>
<tr class="hover">
<td class="align-left fixed" style="width: 120px;" data-col-id="Name" data-stat="Name">Kutter Crawford</td>
<td class="align-left" style="width: 50px;" data-col-id="Team" data-stat="Team">BOS</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 27px;" data-col-id="GS" data-stat="GS">27</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 22px;" data-col-id="W" data-stat="W">8</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 18px;" data-col-id="L" data-stat="L">11</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 41px;" data-col-id="IP" data-stat="IP">148.1</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 40px;" data-col-id="ERA" data-stat="ERA">4.19</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 50px;" data-col-id="xERA" data-stat="xERA">3.94</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 47px;" data-col-id="ERA-" data-stat="ERA-">97</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 36px;" data-col-id="FIP" data-stat="FIP">4.74</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 55px;" data-col-id="WHIP" data-stat="WHIP">1.09</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 35px;" data-col-id="K/9" data-stat="K/9">8.37</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 46px;" data-col-id="BB/9" data-stat="BB/9">2.43</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<p><strong>BLUE JAYS:</strong></p>
<div class="starting-lineups__teams starting-lineups__teams--xs starting-lineups__teams--md starting-lineups__teams--lg">
<blockquote>
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
<li class="starting-lineups__player">TBA</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<hr />
</div>
<div class="starting-lineups__buttons starting-lineups__buttons--bottom">
<div class="p-button-group" role="group">
<div class="p-button p-button--regular starting-lineups__button"><strong>RED SOX:</strong></div>
</div>
</div>
<blockquote>
<div class="starting-lineups__teams starting-lineups__teams--xs starting-lineups__teams--md starting-lineups__teams--lg">
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
<li class="starting-lineups__player">TBA</li>
</ol>
</div>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
<p>Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about all the happenings in Toronto and beyond.</p>
<p><iframe title="Spotify Embed: Blue Jays Nation Radio" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/00f5Twxj4i9KG1WXzdOiG1?go=1&#038;amp%3Bsp_cid=b3195c716641dffe5ac518f4b2755cdc&#038;amp%3Butm_source=embed_player_p&#038;amp%3Butm_medium=desktop&#038;amp%3Bnd=1&#038;utm_source=oembed"></iframe></p>
<hr />
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at</span></i> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing"><span style="font-weight: 400;">@zjlaing</span></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.</span></i></p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>SPONSORED BY bet365</strong></h2>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983"></div>

The Toronto Blue Jays' offence was rolling on Monday, scoring four runs in the June 26th makeup game and seven in the regularly scheduled game against the Boston Red Sox.

<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block"></div>
But the offence has sputtered in the last two games, scoring three runs in Tuesday's game and getting shutout in Wednesday's. The beauty of the game of baseball is it's easy to move past a poor game or two, and that's what the Jays will look to do Thursday.

Bowden Francis, meanwhile, will look to continue a streak that's seen him be one of baseball's hottest pitchers. Over his last three stars, he's posted a 0.82 ERA, giving up just two earned runs, while allowing a meagre five hits and two walks. Oh yeah, he's also fanned 27 of the 75 batters he's faced, good for a 36 percent strikeout rate.

It included two games against the Los Angeles Angels in which he allowed just two hits, the second of which saw him carry a no-hitter into the top of the ninth inning. It'll be a tough test today for him, but in three relief appearances against the Red Sox he's allowed just two hits.

<hr />

<strong>First pitch:</strong> 7:10 p.m. EST.

<strong>TV &amp; Radio:</strong> Sportsnet, SN590.

<strong>Odds via Bet365:</strong>

Moneyline: TOR +120; BOS -140.
Spread: TOR +1.5 -180; BOS -1.5 +150.
Over/Under: o8.5 -105; u8.5 -115.

*Odds at the time of publishing. Odds subject to change.
<h2><strong>Starting pitchers:</strong></h2>
<table style="width: 587px;">
<thead>
<tr>
<th class="align-left  fixed " style="width: 120px;" data-col="0" data-col-id="Name" data-stat="Name">Name</th>
<th class="align-left " style="width: 50px;" data-col="1" data-col-id="Team" data-stat="Team">Team</th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 27px;" data-col="2" data-col-id="GS" data-stat="GS">GS
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 22px;" data-col="3" data-col-id="W" data-stat="W">W
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 18px;" data-col="4" data-col-id="L" data-stat="L">L
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 41px;" data-col="5" data-col-id="IP" data-stat="IP">IP
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 40px;" data-col="6" data-col-id="ERA" data-stat="ERA">ERA
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 50px;" data-col="7" data-col-id="xERA" data-stat="xERA">xERA
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 47px;" data-col="8" data-col-id="ERA-" data-stat="ERA-">ERA-
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 36px;" data-col="9" data-col-id="FIP" data-stat="FIP">FIP
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 55px;" data-col="10" data-col-id="WHIP" data-stat="WHIP">WHIP
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 35px;" data-col="11" data-col-id="K/9" data-stat="K/9">K/9
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
<th class="align-right " style="width: 46px;" data-col="12" data-col-id="BB/9" data-stat="BB/9">BB/9
<div class="th-tooltip undefined">
<div class="arrow-down"></div>
<div></div>
</div></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="">
<td class="align-left fixed" style="width: 120px;" data-col-id="Name" data-stat="Name">Bowden Francis</td>
<td class="align-left" style="width: 50px;" data-col-id="Team" data-stat="Team">TOR</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 27px;" data-col-id="GS" data-stat="GS">8</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 22px;" data-col-id="W" data-stat="W">7</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 18px;" data-col-id="L" data-stat="L">3</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 41px;" data-col-id="IP" data-stat="IP">71.2</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 40px;" data-col-id="ERA" data-stat="ERA">4.02</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 50px;" data-col-id="xERA" data-stat="xERA">3.78</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 47px;" data-col-id="ERA-" data-stat="ERA-">100</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 36px;" data-col-id="FIP" data-stat="FIP">4.50</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 55px;" data-col-id="WHIP" data-stat="WHIP">1.07</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 35px;" data-col-id="K/9" data-stat="K/9">8.79</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 46px;" data-col-id="BB/9" data-stat="BB/9">2.39</td>
</tr>
<tr class="hover">
<td class="align-left fixed" style="width: 120px;" data-col-id="Name" data-stat="Name">Kutter Crawford</td>
<td class="align-left" style="width: 50px;" data-col-id="Team" data-stat="Team">BOS</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 27px;" data-col-id="GS" data-stat="GS">27</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 22px;" data-col-id="W" data-stat="W">8</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 18px;" data-col-id="L" data-stat="L">11</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 41px;" data-col-id="IP" data-stat="IP">148.1</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 40px;" data-col-id="ERA" data-stat="ERA">4.19</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 50px;" data-col-id="xERA" data-stat="xERA">3.94</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 47px;" data-col-id="ERA-" data-stat="ERA-">97</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 36px;" data-col-id="FIP" data-stat="FIP">4.74</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 55px;" data-col-id="WHIP" data-stat="WHIP">1.09</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 35px;" data-col-id="K/9" data-stat="K/9">8.37</td>
<td class="align-right" style="width: 46px;" data-col-id="BB/9" data-stat="BB/9">2.43</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<strong>BLUE JAYS:</strong>
<div class="starting-lineups__teams starting-lineups__teams--xs starting-lineups__teams--md starting-lineups__teams--lg">
<blockquote>
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player">TBA</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>

<hr />

</div>
<div class="starting-lineups__buttons starting-lineups__buttons--bottom">
<div class="p-button-group" role="group">
<div class="p-button p-button--regular starting-lineups__button"><strong>RED SOX:</strong></div>
</div>
</div>
<blockquote>
<div class="starting-lineups__teams starting-lineups__teams--xs starting-lineups__teams--md starting-lineups__teams--lg">
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player">TBA</li>
</ol>
</div></blockquote>

<hr />

<h2 style="text-align: left;">Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about all the happenings in Toronto and beyond.

https://open.spotify.com/show/00f5Twxj4i9KG1WXzdOiG1?go=1&amp;amp;sp_cid=b3195c716641dffe5ac518f4b2755cdc&amp;amp;utm_source=embed_player_p&amp;amp;utm_medium=desktop&amp;amp;nd=1

<hr />

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at</span></i> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing"><span style="font-weight: 400;">@zjlaing</span></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.</span></i>

<hr />

<h2><strong>SPONSORED BY bet365</strong></h2>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983"></div>

Recent articles from Zach Laing

Breaking News