Blue Jays at Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox's glut of productive outfielders allows them to survive a brief absence from Mookie Betts, who is day-to-day with tightness in his left side. The Red Sox will try to ride Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez and company to a series win when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a three-game series on Tuesday.
Betts missed his second straight game on Monday, but Martinez smashed his 17th homer and Benintendi moved into Betts' spot atop the order and went 3-for-5 with a triple, a home run and four RBIs in the 8-3 victory. "He's staying on pitches," Boston manager Alex Cora told reporters of Benintendi. "You can see with his takes. When he's taking pitches, it tells you a lot. We've been talking about him staying in the zone, not chasing pitches. He was able to get that pitch, hit in the air the other way. He's feeling good about himself, putting good at-bats, not expanding. Those are all good signs." The Blue Jays are losers of 11 of their last 15 games and are trying to avoid a third series loss to the Red Sox already this season. Toronto will send right-hander Marco Estrada to the mound on Tuesday opposite former Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (2-5, 5.40 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (6-2, 3.74)
Estrada suffered the loss in each of his last three starts and is coming off an outing against the Angels on Thursday in which he was reached for four runs on seven hits and two walks in 4 1/3 frames. The Long Beach State product notched just one strikeout against Los Angeles and surrendered a home run in each of those last three turns. Estrada lost to Boston twice already this season, allowing a total of nine runs and 15 hits in 11 innings.
Porcello started the season hot but is just 1-2 with a 7.29 ERA over his last four turns. The New Jersey native was ripped for six runs - four earned - on eight hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings at Tampa Bay on Thursday. Porcello was stronger at Toronto on April 24, when he struck out nine and scattered three runs on three hits and three walks over seven innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson (calf) left Sunday's game and is day-to-day.
2. Boston RHP Steven Wright did not allow a run in a combined six innings over his last three appearances.
3. Toronto 2B Devon Travis recorded an extra-base hit in each of the last two games to raise his batting average to .182.