Boston @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2012 ) Toronto 4, Boston 3

The Toronto Blue Jays seek their second straight weekend sweep of the Boston Red Sox when they host a three-game set beginning Friday. Toronto outscored Boston 20-10 at Fenway Park as part of a sequence that has seen the Red Sox lose 13 of 15 games. The Blue Jays salvaged the finale of a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners on Thursday as Edwin Encarnacion became the eighth player in franchise history to hit 40 homers.

Boston was blanked by the New York Yankees on Thursday to conclude a 1-5 homestand. The Red Sox have collapsed under manager Bobby Valentine and are in last place in the American League East, two games behind the Blue Jays. Boston begins a seven-game road trip that includes four games at Tampa Bay. Encarnacion hit a three-run blast to raise his RBI total to 102, marking the first time he has surpassed the century mark. He is one homer behind Texas’ Josh Hamilton, who leads the majors with 41. Toronto racked Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka for five runs in just 1 1/3 innings last Saturday in a 9-2 victory.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, New England Sports Network (Boston), Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-5, 7.20 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Aaron Laffey (3-5, 4.43)

Matsuzaka is making his fourth start since returning from a neck and upper back injury. After a solid first outing, he has been roughed up in his last two, allowing a combined 11 runs and 12 hits in just five innings. Matsuzaka is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in two starts against Toronto this season. He is 7-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 14 career outings against the Blue Jays.

Laffey has lost three straight decisions. He fell one out shy of recording the victory against Boston and Matsuzaka in his last start when he gave up two runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Laffey is 1-0 with a 1.02 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox this season. He is 1-1 with a 4.13 ERA in nine career appearances (four starts) against Boston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia missed Thursday’s game due to the birth of his son and it is unclear when he will rejoin the squad.

2. Toronto’s Adam Lind homered against Seattle on Thursday but is batting just .138 in 29 career at-bats against Matsuzaka.

3. Boston OF Jacoby Ellsbury is batting .328 with nine homers in 64 career games against the Blue Jays.