BOSTON, July 24 (Reuters) – The Boston Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET in Game 102 of the 2026 season. Boston aims to start a new winning streak after dropping two of three to the New York Yankees.
The Red Sox (54-47) enter this series with a .535 winning percentage. They trail the Baltimore Orioles by 4.5 games in the AL East. The Blue Jays (51-50) sit 6.5 games back, clinging to wild-card hopes.
Probable pitchers: Boston right-hander Brayan Bello (10-5, 3.82 ERA) faces Toronto lefty Yusei Kikuchi (8-7, 4.15 ERA). Bello has a 2.95 ERA over his last six starts. Kikuchi allowed four earned runs in five innings against the Red Sox on June 18.
| Pitcher | Team | ERA | Record | Recent form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brayan Bello | BOS | 3.82 | 10-5 | 2.95 ERA last 6 starts |
| Yusei Kikuchi | TOR | 4.15 | 8-7 | 4 ER in 5 IP vs BOS on 6/18 |
Red Sox lineup (official): Jarren Duran (CF), Rafael Devers (3B), Tyler O’Neill (RF), Triston Casas (1B), Masataka Yoshida (DH), Wilyer Abreu (LF), Trevor Story (SS), Enmanuel Valdez (2B), Connor Wong (C).
Blue Jays lineup: George Springer (RF), Bo Bichette (SS), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Justin Turner (DH), Alejandro Kirk (C), Daulton Varsho (CF), Kevin Kiermaier (LF), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B), Santiago Espinal (3B).
Key matchup: Guerrero Jr. is 5-for-12 (.417) with two home runs in his career against Bello. Red Sox left-handed hitters—Duran and Yoshida—have a .285 combined average vs lefty Kikuchi.
TV channel: NESN (local), MLB Network (national). Streaming: MLB.tv (out-of-market). First pitch temperature: 78 degrees, clear skies.
From the press box: Boston Globe notes Devers has a .950 OPS in July. MassLive reports Kikuchi’s slider usage (34%) has increased since June. Yahoo Sports analysis cites Boston’s bullpen (3.67 ERA, 6th in AL) as a decisive factor if Bello doesn’t go deep.
Injury updates: Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) is out. Blue Jays reliever Jordan Romano (elbow) remains on the IL.
A win tonight would push Boston to 55-47, keeping pace in the wild-card race. A loss drops them to .500 at home (26-26). Toronto faces a tough road trip: four games in Baltimore after this series.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What time is the Blue Jays vs Red Sox game?
- A: The game starts at 7:10 p.m. ET at Fenway Park.
- Q: Who are the starting pitchers for Blue Jays vs Red Sox?
- A: Brayan Bello (10-5, 3.82 ERA) for Boston and Yusei Kikuchi (8-7, 4.15 ERA) for Toronto.
- Q: What are the playoff implications of this game?
- A: The Red Sox trail the Orioles by 4.5 games in the AL East, while the Blue Jays are 6.5 games back but still in the wild-card race.
Extended Reading
Reports from Boston Globe, Yahoo Sports, and MassLive were referenced for lineup, pitcher, and injury data.