Toronto @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2013 ) Toronto 4, Boston 2

The Boston Red Sox gave a bunch of their starters the night off on Saturday after clinching the division in the previous contest. The Red Sox will likely rest several more when they host the Toronto Blue Jays for the finale of a three-game series on Sunday. Boston leads in the race for the best record in the American League but is more concerned with health and a proper rotation as it heads into the playoffs.

The Red Sox experimented with Will Middlebrooks at first base and Stephen Drew in the leadoff spot in the lineup on Saturday and suffered a 4-2 loss. The Blue Jays are playing out the string in last place but are still running out a potent lineup even without Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Jose Reyes, Brett Lawrie, Adam Lind and Rajai Davis are all playing well over the last week.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (13-12, 4.21 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (10-6, 4.15)

Dickey is 4-0 in his last five starts and is coming off a seven-inning appearance against the New York Yankees in which he struck out eight and scattered four hits without allowing a run. The knuckleballer only failed to go at least six innings once in his last 17 turns. Dickey suffered through his shortest outing of the year against Boston on April 7, when he was lit up for eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Doubront is making his first start since Sept. 6 after being skipped upon Clay Buchholz’s activation from the disabled list. The Venezuelan made it easy on the team to bounce him from the rotation by surrendering a total of 10 runs on as many hits and seven walks in his last two starts without making it out of the fourth inning either time. Doubront faced Toronto on June 29 and did not factor in the decision while allowing two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury (broken foot) did some running on Saturday and will attempt to take batting practice on Sunday.

2. Toronto placed CF Colby Rasmus on the disabled list Saturday after he was hit with a ball during outfield warmups in the first inning in the series opener.

3. Boston RHP Ryan Dempster made his first appearance out of the bullpen since 2007 on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 1