Tampa Bay @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2012 ) Boston 4, Tampa Bay 7

After snapping a four-game losing streak last week, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon said his team had to run the table to make the postseason. Apparently, his players were listening. The Rays will go for their sixth consecutive victory when they visit the Boston Red Sox for a two-game set starting Tuesday night. Tampa Bay sends ace David Price to the mound with little margin for error, trailing Oakland by three games for the American League's second wild card with nine to play.

Boston won the first two of a four-game series against the Rays last week but followed that up with four straight losses before winning Sunday's series finale against AL wild card leader Baltimore. Already assured of their first losing season since 1997, the Red Sox enter their final two games of the season with an unthinkable 34-45 record at Fenway Park. They have gone 14-34 in September during this season and last.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SUN (Tampa Bay), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH David Price (18-5, 2.58 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (11-6, 4.16)

Price makes his second attempt to become the second 19-game winner in the AL when he faces the Red Sox for the second time in six days. He was on the hook for the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits in 7 1/3 innings, before his teammates rallied for six runs in the ninth inning. He has been outstanding on the road, logging an 11-3 record and 3.31 ERA in 16 starts this year. Price is 7-4 lifetime against the Red Sox.

Buchholz dominated the matchup against Price last time out. The 28-year-old tossed seven scoreless innings and gave up only four hits - two on routine fly balls that were misplayed - but saw his winless streak reach six starts (0-3) after the ninth-inning meltdown by Boston's bullpen. He has surrendered only one earned run in his last two starts and has pitched at least seven innings in 11 of his last 12 outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Price has lost only once in his last 16 starts, going 10-1 in that span.

2. Buchholz is 5-4 with a 2.76 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 12 career starts against the Rays.

3. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia was 5-for-13 against Baltimore over the weekend after going 0-for-16 in last week's four-game set vs. Tampa Bay.