Boston @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( May 1, 2013 ) Boston 10, Toronto 1

Mike Napoli was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays for four days back in January 2011. He spent Wednesday showing them what they're missing - and looks to repeat the feat Thursday as he leads the red-hot Boston Red Sox into the finale of a three-game series in Toronto. Napoli, acquired by Toronto from the Los Angeles Angels and promptly shipped to Texas, overcame a four-strikeout performance Tuesday with two home runs and four RBIs in Wednesday's 10-1 rout.

Napoli's American League-best 31 RBIs highlight a potent Boston offense, but the resurgent pitching staff deserves as much of the credit for Boston's 19-8 start. Ryan Dempster has been a big part of the surge, and enters his third career start in his native Canada among the AL leaders in strikeouts (43). He'll oppose Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ, whose best outing of 2013 came in his season-opening start against the Red Sox on April 6. Toronto has dropped 12 of 17.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (1-2, 3.30 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.86)

Questions arose about Dempster's ability to be a competent starter in the AL East after the Red Sox signed him to a two-year free-agent contract last December. The hard-throwing righty, who turns 36 on Friday, has responded to the criticism with a terrific start. He has racked up at least seven strikeouts in all five of his starts, including a pair of double-digit efforts. Dempster has a 5.27 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 13 2/3 career innings against the Blue Jays.

Happ held Boston to one hit over 5 1/3 sensational innings in his first start of the year, but has been decidedly less effective since. The 30-year-old has yet to last more than six innings and is winless in his last three outings. He limited the New York Yankees to three runs on eight hits over six innings last time out but settled for a no-decision in a 5-4 defeat. Opposing hitters are batting just .224 against him, including a minuscule .175 mark at the Rogers Centre.

WALK-OFFS

1. Toronto RF Jose Bautista has yet to record a multi-hit game in 2013.

2. Boston DH David Ortiz has hit safely in 22 straight games dating to last season.

3. Members of the Blue Jays' roster are a combined .170 with 23 strikeouts in 88 at-bats against Dempster.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 3