Toronto @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2010 ) Toronto 0, Boston 5

The Boston Red Sox carry a four-game winning streak into its series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

They’ll have to increase that streak by quite a bit if they hope to get back in the American League playoff picture.

John Lackey makes the start for Boston in the first of a three-game set at Fenway Park Friday night. The Red Sox lead the season series 11-4.

Boston is realistic about its slim playoff chances. Manager Terry Francona has continued to shuffle lineups giving rookies Ryan Kalish, Josh Reddick, Lars Anderson and others a chance to play.

But the Red Sox sweep at Seattle has the Fenway faithful abuzz. Boston still has six games remaining against the New York Yankees. They trail New York by 6 games in the wild-card race.

Lackey has struggled recently, losing his last three outings. He’s never lost four straight decisions. Lackey is 4-4 lifetime against the Jays and took no-decision in his last meeting with Toronto. In that game he went eight innings allowing three runs on eight hits.

Lackey left the game with a 5-2 lead after surrendering a leadoff homer to Jose Bautista in the ninth inning. Jonathan Papelbon entered the contest and was beat up by the jays who scored four runs in the inning on the way to a 6-5 win.

But Lackey is not alone, as Bautista has hammered everyone this year. The Jays’ slugger tied Toronto’s single-season mark with his 47th home run in his last game. George Bell set the mark in 1987.

Bautista has 23 homers since the all-star break and 57 since last September. Both totals are the best in the majors. He has 10 career homers against the Red Sox.

Brett Cecil starts for the Jays. Cecil is just 1-3 lifetime against Boston but that win came in his last meeting against the Red Sox. He scattered nine hits over 6 2/3 innings in the contest on the way and Toronto peppered Boston pitching on the way to a 16-2 win.

The lefty has won three of his last four decisions but was roughed up by Tampa Bay last time out. He allowed seven runs in just two innings in the contest but the Blue Jay offense took him off the hook eventually tying the game 8-8 before falling 9-8.

Boston hopes to have J.D. Drew back in the lineup Friday. He missed four straight games with a sore ankle but took batting practice on Wednesday and is probable to return.

Expect the hot-hitting Jed Lowrie to also be in the Boston lineup. Francona has consistently rested Lowrie, who missed most of the season with mononucleosis. Lowrie homered twice in Tuesday’s win at Seattle and then sat out the next night.