NRC85's Friday Night Pick

[nrc85]

Toronto @ Boston Over 9.5

- Partly cloudy. Winds blowing in from left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game-time temperature: Around 18 C (65 F)

- For Cecil, location was a problem last Friday, as he allowed seven runs in two-plus innings in a no-decision against the Rays. "He just didn't have any control at all," Gaston said of Cecil. "He left everything up in the strike zone. Maybe he got a few down, but it was probably the worst that I've seen him all year." (MLB.com)

- As for Lackey, the veteran pitched well enough to get a win in his last start, but he didn't have much in the way of support and lost in Oakland after giving up three runs in seven innings. In 15 starts at Fenway this season, Lackey is 9-4 with a 4.36 ERA. (MLB.com)

- Toronto and Boston have played 15 games against each other this year with an average of just over 10 runs a game. Playing the over in this one seems like the logical choice with Cecil struggling and Lackey facing a Jays team who can hit. Wind is blowing in from left field but not very strongly, can't see this affecting all the right handed hitters.

[nrc85]

That wind blowing in from left might help Cecil, I was trying to imagine myself on the mound and wondering if the wind would help his curve. I know when I pitched back in the day, I loved the wind coming in from any directing, really helped the curve ball I found, felt like you had more velocity as well. Should have considered that before posting this.

[LordCC]

Good luck sir!