Red Sox at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays can match their longest winning streak of the season when they continue their three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays won their third straight game overall and beat American League East-leading Boston for the third consecutive time with Friday's 7-5 victory.
Reigning MVP Josh Donaldson broke out of a 4-for-28 rut in a big way as Toronto snapped a five-game home losing streak. Donaldson went 4-for-5 with a pair of homers, including a tiebreaking two-run blast in the eighth inning, and five RBIs to pull the Blue Jays back to the .500 mark. One night after Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr. had his 29-game hitting streak snapped, shortstop Xander Bogaerts extended his to 20 games in a row. Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello will make his third start against Toronto this season and will be opposed by Marcus Stroman, who has never lost to Boston.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (7-2, 3.47 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (5-1, 3.89)
Porcello bounced back from his worst outing of the season by holding Cleveland to two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, which was only the second time in nine turns that he failed to pitch six frames. He lasted only five innings in his previous start and was tagged for a season highs in runs (five) and hits (eight). Porcello beat the Blue Jays in his first two starts of the season, although he surrendered a pair of homers in each of the wins.
Stroman rebounded from his first loss with a stellar effort at Minnesota on Sunday, permitting one run on three hits over 7 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old New York native was hammered for seven runs and 13 hits -- both season worsts -- over 5 2/3 innings in a home loss to Tampa Bay in his previous turn. Stroman, who won his first four starts versus the Red Sox before giving up five runs in a no-decision on April 8, has held Bradley hitless in eight at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays RF Jose Bautista sat out Friday after his one-game suspension was upheld by Major League Baseball.
2. Boston demoted struggling RHP Clay Buchholz to the bullpen.
3. Blue Jays SS Troy Tulowitzki had a rough return after missing two games, striking out four times Friday.