Boston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2012 ) Boston 3, Tampa Bay 1

The Boston Red Sox are slowly getting their injured players back in the lineup. Friday saw the return of Jacoby Ellsbury and Will Middlebrooks, while Clay Buchholz is set to make his return to the mound on Saturday. The Red Sox need all the help they can get to chase down the playoff contenders in the American League. The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the teams in front, though their own injuries could be dragging them back.

The Rays don’t have anything positive to report on third baseman Evan Longoria, who has been out since tearing his hamstring on April 30. There is no concrete timetable for his return. Other sluggers - specifically Carlos Pena (.198 batting average), Luke Scott (.203) and B.J. Upton (.245) - are having trouble picking up the slack. Ellsbury and Middlebrooks combined to go 1-for-9 on Friday, but David Ortiz and Pedro Ciriaco continue to be hot for Boston.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), SUN (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (8-2, 5.53 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (11-4, 2.82)

Buchholz was hospitalized with a gastrointestinal illness and has not started in the majors since June 19. The right-hander had a string of four straight quality starts broken up in his final appearance, when he was reached for five runs and nine hits in six innings against the Miami Marlins. Buchholz has allowed seven runs in 14 innings against the Rays this season and is 5-3 with a 2.49 ERA in his career against the division rivals.

Price was on the short list to start the All-Star Game but had to settle for a scoreless third inning after being passed over in favor of Detroit’s Justin Verlander. Price is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his last four starts and yielded one run over seven innings in a no decision at Boston on May 26. He is 6-4 with a 3.22 ERA in 12 career starts against the Red Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox 1B Adrian Gonzalez (illness) was a late scratch from Friday’s lineup.

2. The Rays completed a deal with first-round draft pick Richie Shaffer just in front of the deadline on Friday. The deal is reportedly for a bonus of $1,712,500.

3. Boston LF Carl Crawford (elbow, wrist) is eyeing Monday as his return date.