Blue Jays at Red Sox
The Toronto Blue Jays battled the major league-best Boston Red Sox as hard as any team earlier this season but were not able to come away with a series victory in two tries. The Blue Jays attempt to get an early edge when they visit the Red Sox on Monday in the opener of a three-game set at Fenway Park.
Toronto hosted Boston once in April and again in May, and all six games were decided by three or fewer runs but the Blue Jays managed to win only two of those contests - both in extra innings. Toronto had more luck winning tight games over the weekend, taking two of three at Philadelphia while winning the rubber match 5-3 on Sunday behind a strong pitching performance from J.A. Happ and two-run doubles from Devon Travis and Dwight Smith Jr. The Red Sox earned their third straight series win over the weekend but missed out on a three-game sweep when they dropped a 7-1 decision to the Atlanta Braves in a rare struggle for the offense. Boston will try to start another winning streak behind left-hander David Price on Monday while the Blue Jays counter with righty Aaron Sanchez.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (2-4, 4.07 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (4-4, 4.08)
Sanchez is winless in his last four outings and was stuck with a no-decision Wednesday despite yielding two hits in five scoreless frames. The 25-year-old issued five walks in those five frames and is struggling to work deep into games with 34 walks in 55 1/3 total innings. Sanchez faced Boston twice already this season and did not factor in the decision in either turn while surrendering a total of four earned runs on eight hits and five walks in 11 innings.
Price is coming off his third consecutive strong outing and held Tampa Bay to one run on three hits and three walks while striking out nine in six innings on Wednesday. The nine strikeouts marked a season high for the Vanderbilt product, who owns 55 punchouts in 57 1/3 total frames. Price earned a win at Toronto on May 12, when he allowed two runs and five hits while striking out six in 5 1/3 total innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox RF Mookie Betts (left side tightness) sat out Sunday and is day-to-day.
2. Toronto RHP Seunghwan Oh allowed a total of one hit while striking out six in five total innings over his last four appearances.
3. Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia (knee surgery) is 0-for-7 in two games since returning from the disabled list.