Blue Jays at Red Sox
Even with Mookie Betts on the sidelines, the Boston Red Sox are having no issues scoring runs against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays and aim for a three-game sweep when the teams finish their set at Fenway Park on Wednesday. Betts, the major league leader with a .359 batting average, missed the first two games of the series - three straight overall - with tightness in his left side, but the Red Sox have picked up back-to-back 8-3 victories over their American League East foes.
Sandy Leon homered and drove in three runs while Xander Bogearts also went deep in Tuesday's triumph, Boston's 10th win in its last 13 contests. It was also the fourth consecutive victory for the Red Sox over the Blue Jays, who have dropped 12 of 16 overall. Third baseman Josh Donaldson has a hit in seven straight games for Toronto but a calf ailment kept the former MVP out of the lineup Wednesday. He is aiming to return for the series finale but is just 1-for-16 in his career against left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who gets the nod for the Red Sox opposite Sam Gaviglio.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Sam Gaviglio (2-0, 2.30 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (5-1, 4.02)
Gaviglio has been a bright spot since entering the rotation two turns ago, going 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA as a starter. He allowed three hits - two home runs - and struck out six in six innings to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies his last time out. The 28-year-old let up a run in 4 1/3 frames while fanning six in two relief appearances against the Red Sox earlier this month.
Rodriguez completed six innings in just one of his last six starts but he has yielded only five runs in 21 1/3 innings over a four-start span. Included in that run was 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball in a win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday. The Venezuela native, who has 65 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings, defeated Toronto with a season-high 6 2/3 innings earlier in the year but has a 5.44 ERA in nine career meetings (eight starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays CF Kevin Pillar was 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in Tuesday's loss and is 3-for-34 over an 11-game stretch.
2. Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez has 17 RBIs in his last 10 games against Toronto.
3. Boston RHP Joe Kelly allowed one run in 25 2/3 innings over his last 24 appearances.