Atlanta @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Mar 16, 2011 ) Boston 3, Atlanta 4
A quick turnaround has the Boston Red Sox moving up the American League East standings, but the Atlanta Braves hope to stop Boston's surge and continue their own when they begin a three-game interleague series at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox rallied with three in the eighth for a 6-5 win over Miami on Thursday, Boston's fifth straight win and its seventh in eight games. The Red Sox are three games over .500 and 5 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the division.
The Braves are trying to mount a similar charge, having won two straight since losing seven of eight. They're four games back of Washington in the National League East.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Peachtree, Fox Sports South (Atlanta), NESN (Boston), MLB Network (National)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Jair Jurrjens (0-2, 9.37 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (4-4, 4.53)
Atlanta will give Jurrjens a chance to reclaim his spot in the rotation after he went 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA in 10 starts at Triple-A Gwinnett. Jurrjens replaces Brandon Beachy, who had successful Tommy John surgery Thursday. Jurrjens is making his first major-league start since April 23. The 26-year-old former All-Star is 0-1 with a 3.14 ERA in two starts against Boston.
Lester was winless in four starts before beating the Cubs on Saturday. He struck out eight and allowed three runs - all on a homer by Luis Valbuena - over 6 2/3 innings. After a poor start to the season, Lester has posted three straight quality starts and has 29 strikeouts and only four walks in his last four outings. Lester won his only start against the Braves back in 2006.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta has won six of its last seven road games to improve to 22-15 away from home, the second best road winning percentage in the National League.
2. The Red Sox are 33-2 when leading after eight innings.
3. Braves OF Jason Heyward is hitting .400 (10-for-25) with two homers and four RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.