Toronto @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2012 ) Toronto 15, Boston 7
The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have certainly made some noise this season. Unfortunately for the cellar-dwelling rivals in the American League East, the constant sound making the rounds is the collective groan by the fan bases of both teams. With little more to play for than pride, the Blue Jays and Red Sox will begin a three-game series at Fenway Park on Friday.
Boston manager Bobby Valentine delivered quite the sound bite after describing this season as "miserable." He then took issue with a local radio co-host after the latter suggested that Valentine had "checked out" with the campaign spiraling out of control. Back to matters on the field, the Red Sox were outscored by a 58-16 margin while losing seven straight before limping home with a 1-8 mark on their nine-game road trip. Toronto was held scoreless for 19 straight innings before finally getting its offense in gear in a 6-4 win over Baltimore in the series finale.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NESN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Henderson Alvarez (7-12, 5.04) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (10-7, 5.03)
Alvarez is mired in a five-game losing skid after yielding four runs and as many walks over five innings in a 5-4 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday. The 22-year-old Venezuelan hasn't been working deep into game, failing to pitch over five innings in six of his last seven starts. Alvarez has won two of three career decisions versus the Red Sox, but has allowed 16 runs in his last three appearances.
Doubront will vie for his first win since July 18 when he takes the mound on Friday. The 24-year-old Venezuelan has permitted 25 earned runs and issued 18 walks in his last six starts. After defeating Toronto twice this season, Doubront was torched for a season-high seven runs on 11 hits in six innings en route to a 9-6 setback on June 25.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto C J.P. Arencibia, who has been sidelined since July 26 with a broken hand, is expected to return on Friday. He had been rehabbing at Class A Dunedin before it was eliminated from the postseason.
2. Dustin Pedroia has been one of the few bright spots in Beantown. Pedroia, who has hit safely in 28 of his last 30 games, is 4-for-12 with a home run and a triple in his career versus Alvarez.
3. Blue Jays manager John Farrell declared that LHP Ricky Romero will skip Saturday's start against Boston in favor of his next one on Wednesday. Farrell contends that the extra rest will be a positive for Romero, who has lost 12 consecutive decisions.