Boston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2012 ) Boston 4, NY Yankees 1

The Boston Red Sox continue to tease their fans by winning just often enough to keep hope alive and hint at the talent that lies on the roster. A series win over the rival New York Yankees would really give the fan base something around which to rally. The Red Sox are three games under .500 and at 6 1/2 games out of a playoff spot need the type of run that have yet to rip off this season to actually contend.

The Yankees are cruising toward another American League East crown. At five games ahead of second-place Tampa Bay, New York can afford to let Mark Teixeira take all the time he needs to heal from a bothersome wrist, and Alex Rodriguez has no need to rush back from a fractured wrist. The Yankees had trouble solving Jon Lester in a 4-1 loss to Boston on Saturday but have taken seven of 11 from their rivals this season. The Red Sox are getting production from Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia but the real surprise is Pedro Ciriaco, who recorded four hits on Saturday and is batting .517 (15-for-29) against New York this season.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Josh Beckett (5-10, 5.19 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (11-8, 3.06)

With Lester coming on strong in his last two starts, Beckett is firmly the weak link in the Boston rotation. The veteran right-hander has been pounded for 14 runs and 14 hits - five home runs - over a total of 10 1/3 innings in his last two starts. Beckett had surrendered a total of nine home runs in his previous 18 starts this season. He was knocked around for six runs in five innings against New York on July 6 and owns a career 14-7 record despite a 5.52 ERA in 28 starts against the Yankees.

Kuroda is quietly becoming New York’s best pitcher. The Japanese right-hander has put up a quality start in each of his last six turns and is coming off a two-hit shutout of the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. Kuroda shelled for seven runs (six earned) and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings against the Red Sox on July 6 but was strong against them on July 29, yielding two runs in eight innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pedroia has hit safely in 13 straight games.

2. The Yankees have hit 29 home runs in 11 games against the Red Sox this season. Curtis Granderson has gone deep in each of the first two games of the current series.

3. Crawford is reportedly considering shutting down his season to have surgery on his left elbow.