Boston @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2012 ) Boston 2, Cleveland 5

If the Boston Red Sox miss the playoffs for the third straight season, most fingers will point toward the starting rotation - especially co-aces Jon Lester and Josh Beckett - as the biggest reason. Lester will try to win for the first time since June 27 when the Red Sox attempt to salvage a split of their four-game series in Cleveland against the Indians on Sunday. Lester and Beckett entered 2012 with a combined record of 201-115 (.636), but are 10-19 with a 5.18 ERA this season. The Red Sox are 15-27 in their starts, but the others in the rotation - except Clay Buchholz - haven't been very good either lately. Red Sox starters are 4-11 in their last 22 games and Boston is 8-14 during that stretch.

The Red Sox began life without rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks on Saturday. Middlebrooks fractured his right wrist after he was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning on Friday and is likely lost for the season. Boston is already without designated hitter David Ortiz, who experienced soreness in his heel after recent running and agility drills. It was hoped he would rejoin the lineup Sunday, but his return has been pushed back. Cleveland rookie Corey Kluber will make his third career start.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (5-10, 5.36 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (0-0, 6.10)

Lester was 76-34 entering 2012 and has already reached a career high for losses in a season. He has allowed four or more runs in five of his last six starts including his last outing, when he yielded four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings in Boston's 6-3 loss to Texas on Tuesday. Lester is 4-1 with a 3.53 in 10 starts against Cleveland. The Indians' roster is hitting .244 against Lester, with Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo a combined 3-for-22.

Kluber made his season debut Aug. 2 at Kansas City and was torched for six runs and nine hits (two homers) in 4 1/3 innings in Cleveland's 7-6 loss. He bounced back with a much better performance, though, when he yielded three runs (one earned) and six hits and six innings in the Indians' 7-5 setback to Minnesota on Tuesday. Kluber was 11-7 with a 3.59 ERA and 128 strikeouts 125 1/3 innings in 21 starts with Triple-A Columbus before being recalled.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston called up Danny Valencia from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Middlebrooks' spot on the roster. The Red Sox acquired Valencia from the Minnesota Twins on Sunday for minor league OF Jeremias Pineda.

2. OF Brent Lillibridge, who came to Boston in the Kevin Youkilis trade on June 24 and was dealt to Cleveland on July 24, went 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored in the Indians' 5-2 victory on Saturday, their third victory in 15 games.

3. Eight of Cody Ross' 18 homers have tied the game or put Boston ahead. Only two have come with the Red Sox leading or trailing by more than three runs.