Red Sox at Blue Jays
Rick Porcello led the major leagues in victories with 22 last season while J.A. Happ was tied for second, but their fortunes have changed dramatically this year. Porcello attempts to avoid his major league-worst 16th loss when he takes the mound for the visiting Boston Red Sox as they go for a three-game sweep versus Happ and the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
After getting swept at home by Baltimore to extend their losing streak to four, the Red Sox have won two straight to open a four-game lead over the New York Yankees atop the American League East. Hanley Ramirez went deep in Tuesday's 3-0 win to reach 20 homers for the eighth season while Eduardo Nunez and Andrew Benintendi have four hits apiece in the first two games of the series. Designated hitter Kendrys Morales had two of the four hits for Toronto, which has dropped three in a row and nine of 11 to fall 10 games under .500. Happ, who was unbeaten in three starts against Boston last year en route to a 20-4 record, has lost 10 of his 19 starts this season.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (8-15, 4.57 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (6-10, 4.10)
Porcello's three-start winning streak came to a crash halt with a dreadful outing versus Baltimore on Friday, when he was hammered for 11 runs on 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He has surrendered a career-worst 31 homers, including multiple shots in eight of his last 16 turns. Jose Bautista is 16-for-42 with four homers against Porcello while Justin Smoak is 7-for-27 with three homers and nine RBIs.
Happ opened the month with a three-start winning streak, permitting one run in each, but he has been hit hard in losing each of his last two outings. He was charged with 10 runs and 17 hits over 11 innings while falling to Minnesota and the Chicago Cubs. Xander Bogaerts is 1-for-16 versus Happ, who is 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA against the Red Sox after pitching five innings of two-run ball at Boston last month.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (knee) will run the bases Wednesday and, barring a setback, could return this weekend versus the Yankees.
2. Bautista is 5-for-48 with 20 strikeouts against Boston this season.
3. Red Sox LHP David Price (elbow) will throw off a mound on Wednesday for the first time since July 22.