Tampa Bay @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 13, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 1, Boston 2

The Boston Red Sox could quickly forget a dismal 2012 season if their top two pitchers, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, can stay healthy and return to their previous form. Lester has had three solid starts and Buchholz goes for his third victory when the Red Sox host the struggling Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Buchholz was 17-7 in 2010 before a back injury sidelined him the following year, and a poor start in 2012 doomed his season.

The Red Sox have won the opener of their first four series and have lost four of the other six games. Tampa Bay has produced eight runs in losing four of its last five, including a 2-1 defeat in 10 innings Saturday. Evan Longoria is batting .313 for the Rays but is still looking for his first extra-base hit and has knocked in only three runs.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Cobb (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (2-0, 0.64)

Cobb was scheduled to start Friday but was moved back two days due to a rainout. The Boston native was outstanding in his only outing, allowing four hits and no runs while striking out six over 7 1/3 innings to beat Cleveland on April 6. He earned a spot in the rotation by going 11-9 with a 4.03 ERA in 2012. Cobb is 2-1 in his three starts against the Red Sox – 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA at Fenway Park.

Buchholz has shined in his first two starts, giving up one run and nine hits over 14 innings. The 28-year-old recorded 12 strikeouts and walked six in beating the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Buchholz is 5-5 lifetime against Tampa Bay with a 2.76 ERA over 88 innings. Catcher Jose Molina is 7-for-17 against the right-hander.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston RHP Koji Uehara has gone 19 regular-season outings without allowing a run to match his career high of 16 straight scoreless innings.

2. Tampa Bay’s Ben Zobrist has either been on base at least once or recorded an RBI in each of the first 10 games.

3. Red Sox starting pitchers have held opponents to three or fewer runs in the first 10 games, besting the previous club record of nine to start the season set in 1916, which included three starts by Babe Ruth.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Rays 2