Toronto @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2012 ) Toronto 9, Boston 6

How desperate are the Toronto Blue Jays for starting pitching? They've reportedly signed a 49-year-old who has already been cut loose by two organizations this season. Jamie Moyer will toil away at Triple-A Las Vegas for now, but it's Aaron Laffey who gets the call for the big club as the Blue Jays resume their three-game series with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. Toronto used a trio of two-run homers to win Monday's opener 9-6.

Laffey will be making his first start since 2010, when he was with the Cleveland Indians. Two years and three teams later, the veteran left-hander is a vital fill-in with four of Toronto's five regular starters on the mend. He'll be opposed by Daisuke Matsuzaka, who looks rusty as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. David Ortiz reached the 20-homer mark with a pair of blasts in defeat as Boston fell into a fourth-place tie with Toronto in the AL East.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Aaron Laffey (0-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-2, 6.06)

Laffey was one of the few effective Toronto pitchers during the club's recent trip to Milwaukee, limiting the Brewers to one run over 4 2/3 innings spanning a pair of appearances. The 27-year-old has had all sorts of trouble in his career against the Red Sox, boasting an 0-1 record with a 9.28 era in six appearances, including one start. The current Boston roster is hitting a collective .308 against him.

Matsuzaka has allowed 11 runs over his 16 1/3 innings so far, and his pitch counts have been a major issue. The Japanese star needed 101 pitches to record 16 outs in his last encounter, a game the Red Sox went on to win 6-5 against the Miami Marlins. Matsuzaka is no stranger to the Blue Jays, owning a sparkling 7-1 mark with a 3.46 ERA in 12 career starts against them. Jose Bautista, who leads the majors with 24 homers, is just 2-for-16 lifetime vs. Matsuzaka.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays CF Colby Rasmus is swinging one of the hottest bats in the majors, hitting .410 (16-for-39) with five home runs and 15 RBIs in his last nine games.

2. Ortiz has hit at least 20 homers in 11 straight seasons - including all 10 he has spent with the Red Sox.

3. Toronto's three home runs Monday moved them into a tie with the New York Yankees for the most road homers (54).