Tampa Bay @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 14, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 0, Boston 5

The Boston Red Sox look for their third straight dynamic pitching performance when Ryan Dempster goes to the mound to try and finish the sweep of the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz silenced the Rays’ bats in the last two contests to set the table for the series finale in the traditional Patriots Day game. The starting staff for Boston has not allowed more than three runs in each of the first 11 games, setting a franchise record to start the season and paving the way to first place in the American League East.

Tampa Bay expected to have an improved offense to go along with its solid pitching, but the Rays have produced only eight runs during a 1-5 swoon. Their top threat, Evan Longoria, has yet to record an extra-base hit and offseason acquisition Yunel Escobar has only four hits in 38 at-bats.

TV: 11:05 a.m. ET, SunSports (Tampa), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 6.35 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (0-1, 3.60)

Hellickson has not been sharp to start the season. The 2011 American League Rookie of the Year has allowed 13 hits – three homers -- and eight runs over 11 1/3 innings in his first two starts. Hellickson was 10-11 in 2012 but boasted a 3.10 ERA. The 26-year-old is 3-2 lifetime with a 4.47 ERA over 54 1/3 innings against Boston. David Ortiz has homered twice off Hellickson, but he is on the disabled list.

Dempster’s first two starts for the Red Sox have been average. The 35-year-old has allowed six runs – four earned – over 10 innings while striking out 15. Dempster was 12-8 last season, pitching for both the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers, and has 65 wins the last five seasons. He is 3-4 lifetime against the Rays with a 4.24 ERA over 51 innings, but has not faced Tampa Bay since 2008.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston 1B/DH Mike Napoli took over the team lead with 10 RBIs after his two-run double Sunday.

2. Tampa Bay had two errors the first nine games before committing one in each of the first two games of the series.

3. Players currently on the 25-man roster for Tampa Bay are 4-for-38 all time against Dempster.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Rays 3