GDB -9.0: Blue Jays Spring Training continues against Red Sox

Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
Mar 3, 2024, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Mar 3, 2024, 21:36 EST
A tough Spring Training for the Toronto Blue Jays continues on Sunday, taking on their AL East rival Boston Red Sox.
Heading into the game the Jays hold the worst record in Grapefruit League ball, going just 2-6. The record, however, is irrelevant, as teams much like the Jays are rotating through plenty of young players.
Like today, where Toronto is boasting a lineup of tweener players. Guys like Ernie Clement, Spencer Horwitz, Addison Barger, Alan Roden and Cam Eden — all prospects who have gotten their feet wet in the big leagues, are fighting their way through the ranks, or are knocking on the door of increased roles this season.
And then there’s today’s starter, Paolo Espino, a journeyman starter through the years who had a tough 2023 campaign signed by the Jays to a minor league deal for organizational depth.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, will trot out starter Kutter Crawford and a lineup looking a lot closer to an MLB one than the Jays.
First pitch: 1:05 p.m. EST — TV: Sportsnet. Radio: SN590.
Moneyline: TOR +177; BOS -222.
Spread: TOR +1.5 -110; BOS -1.5 -111.
Over/Under: o9.5 -105; u9.5 -118.
Spread: TOR +1.5 -110; BOS -1.5 -111.
Over/Under: o9.5 -105; u9.5 -118.
*Odds available at the time of writing. Odds subject to change.
Starting pitchers (2023 statistics):
| Name | Team | GS | W | L | IP | ERA | xERA | ERA- | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kutter Crawford | BOS | 23 | 6 | 8 | 129.1 | 4.04 | 3.30 | 89 | 3.83 | 1.11 | 9.39 | 2.51 |
Paolo Espino | TOR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 24.75 | 16.46 | 564 | 7.26 | 4.25 | 6.75 | 6.75 |
Lineups:
TORONTO:
- E Clement (R) 3B
- A Kirk (R) C
- D Vogelbach (L) DH
- D Schneider (R) 2B
- S Espinal (R) SS
- S Horwitz (L) 1B
- A Barger (L) RF
- A Roden (L) LF
- C Eden (R) CF
RED SOX:
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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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