Boston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 16, 2011 ) Boston 9, Tampa Bay 5

THE STORY: With its starting rotation in shambles, the Boston Red Sox had hoped to salvage one game at Tampa Bay to maintain its cushion in the American League East. After rallying for a 9-5 win Saturday, however, Boston looks to take the rubber game of the crucial set against the Rays on Sunday night. Tampa Bay leads the season series 4-3, but trails Boston by six games in the AL East. The Rays send Jeff Niemann, who has won three straight games, to the mound against Boston’s best pitcher in 2011, Josh Beckett.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Josh Beckett (8-3, 2.27 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jeff Niemann (4-4, 4.53).

Beckett left his last start after suffering a mild hyperextension of his left knee. While he downplayed the injury, Beckett did not pitch in the All-Star Game and even cut a throwing session short because of soreness. A healthy Beckett is imperative for Boston down the stretch. He has won four of his last five starts and is among the league leaders in ERA. Beckett is 8-4 lifetime against Tampa Bay with a 3.15 ERA, including a one-hitter in a 3-0 victory in June. Niemann hasn’t lost since returning from the disabled list with a back injury. During those four starts, he is 3-0 with a no-decision. He has beaten the Yankees, Cardinals and Brewers in that stretch, holding the trio to two earned runs in 19 innings. Niemann has struggled against Boston in his career going 2-2 with a 6.62 ERA in four starts.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (56-36): The Red Sox will have a decision on their hands when Carl Crawford returns to the lineup Monday. Josh Reddick is batting .379 with three homers and 17 RBIs, including a mammoth home run against James Shields on Saturday. Reddick could force Boston to sit right fielder J.D. Drew and his paltry .228 average. Boston will probably demote Drew Sutton or Yamaico Navarro to make room for Crawford. Starter Clay Buchholz is still not close to returning from a back injury that has sidelined since June 17. Boston called up Randy Williams, who had a 1.29 ERA in 19 appearances for Triple A Pawtucket to replace Bobby Jenks who went on the DL on Saturday for the third time this season. Williams retired all three batters he faced Saturday.

ABOUT THE RAYS (50-42): Despite Saturday’s loss, the Rays have beaten the Red Sox 22 of their last 33 games at Tropicana Field, including seven of the last 11. With John Jaso on the DL, Kelly Shoppach started at catcher Saturday, but Jose Lobaton is expected to start Sunday. The Rays shuffled their lineup Saturday, batting Casey Kotchman third for the first time this season. He had two hits and scored twice. Matt Joyce homered one pitch after fouling a ball off his knee Saturday. Joyce was down on the field for so long, it looked as if he would come out of the game.

FINAL PITCH: Crawford has looked good in his rehab stint with Pawtucket and expects to return to the lineup when the Red Sox play at Baltimore on Monday.