Boston @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2012 ) Boston 3, Toronto 2
The Toronto Blue Jays had the Boston Red Sox under their thumb prior to this weekend's series at the Rogers Centre. After being on the business end of six straight defeats, the Red Sox will look to gain a measure of revenge on Sunday when they vie for a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays. Rookie Pedro Ciriaco ripped a two-out RBI double to snap a tie in the ninth inning as Boston posted a 3-2 triumph on Saturday afternoon.
Dustin Pedroia returned from a two-game absence after he welcomed the birth of his second child. Pedroia failed to get a hit on Saturday, but has enjoyed considerable success versus Sunday starter Brandon Morrow. The former American League MVP is 9-for-17 with two homers and four doubles in his career versus Morrow.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, NESN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (9-11, 4.99 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Brandon Morrow (8-6, 3.16)
Lester struggled with his control in his last outing, yielding a career-high seven walks in 5 1/3 innings to take a no-decision versus the Yankees on Tuesday. The 28-year-old was torched by Toronto on July 22, permitting a career high in both runs (11) and homers allowed (four) in four innings. He also walked five to fall to 11-6 in his career versus the Blue Jays.
Morrow suffered his third loss in four decisions after getting blitzed for four runs on a career high-tying 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has allowed a homer in his last three outings after yielding just seven in his previous 17. Morrow is 1-3 in his career versus the Red Sox, but has not faced them this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto has won 10 of the 17 meetings between the AL East rivals, but has dropped a percentage point behind Boston in the standings. The Blue Jays have also lost four of five overall and eight of their last 10 at home.
2. Lester has limited the Blue Jays to a .207 batting average in his career, second only to Kansas City (.176).
3. Closer Andrew Bailey has recorded back-to-back saves in this series, marking the first time he's done so with the Red Sox.