Boston @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2011 ) Toronto 4, Boston 6

THE STORY: The New York Yankees opened up a 1 1/2-game lead on the Boston Red Sox with a convincing sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. Boston will try to do the same as they open a four-game series with the division-rival Jays at the Rogers Centre on Monday. The Red Sox lead the season series 8-4, and have won five of the last six meetings between the teams.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Josh Beckett (12-5, 2.54 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Henderson Alvarez (1-2, 3.52 ERA)

Beckett began rounding into October form six weeks early, which bodes well for the playoff-bound Red Sox. The 31-year-old has won three straight games, the last two coming against potential future playoff opponents in the Yankees and Texas Rangers. Beckett is just 4-6 in 15 career starts against Toronto, with a 6.57 ERA over 86 1/3 innings.

Alvarez made history in his previous start, becoming the youngest starter to win a game for Toronto in more than three decades. The 21-year-old mixed his pitches to near-perfection in a 13-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles five days ago, scattering three hits over eight shutout innings while striking out five and walking none. He's 0-1 in two home starts with a 5.40 ERA.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (84-55): Boston looked mostly out-of-sync over the weekend, dropping a pair of one-sided decisions to the Rangers. If the Red Sox wind up facing Texas in the postseason, fans might very well see similar results: The Rangers won the season series 6-4, outscoring the Red Sox 51-15 in their victories and getting blown out 42-14 in their losses. The Red Sox will look to stabilize things against a pitcher they have never met in Hernandez. Outfielder Josh Reddick was held out of Sunday's series finale after being hit by a pitch on the hand in Saturday's victory. He's expected to see action in Monday's curtain raiser against Toronto.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (69-71): Toronto has been at the .500 mark more often than any other team in the majors, but returning to the break-even point is going to be difficult. After being swept out of the Bronx over the weekend, the Blue Jays host Boston for four games before welcoming lowly Baltimore. After that, it's more of the American League East elite as they visit the Red Sox for a pair before welcoming the Yankees to town. Current Toronto players are hitting a collective .255 with four home runs against Beckett. Slugger Jose Bautista is 3-for-9 with a pair of dingers for his career, while Adam Lind is 8-for-18 with four doubles and a homer.

FINAL PITCH: Beckett has surrendered a staggering 19 homers against Toronto, the second-most of any opponent. The Yankees have taken him deep 26 times, but those have come in 80 more innings.