Toronto @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 2, 2013 ) Boston 3, Toronto 1

The last week has been a difficult one for the Boston Red Sox - but a visit from a familiar foe may change their fortunes as they prepare to host the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game series beginning Friday. The Red Sox took two out of three in Toronto at the beginning of the month, and looked good in doing so. Having dropped six of seven since, Boston will look to get back on the winning track as it sends unbeaten left-hander Jon Lester to the mound in the series opener.

The Blue Jays come in having earned a split of their four-game series against the host Tampa Bay Rays, an encounter that ended on a sour note after the Blue Jays walked home the winning run in Thursday's 5-4 defeat. With injuries and ineffectiveness plaguing Toronto's starting rotation, 39-year-old right-hander Ramon Ortiz gets the call Friday. He'll be making his first start since July 10, 2011, when he was a member of the Chicago White Sox.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), New England Sports Network (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Ramon Ortiz (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (4-0, 3.30)

Ortiz signed as a minor-league free agent in December and fared well with the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, going 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance. He assumes the rotation spot originally occupied by Brandon Morrow, who was pushed back to Sunday due to a sore neck. Ortiz is 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 61 2/3 career innings against Boston. He hasn't faced the Red Sox since the 2004 American League Division Series, when he was with the Angels.

Lester is already familiar with the 2013 Blue Jays, having faced them twice. He limited them to five hits over seven shutout innings in his first go-around, but was tagged for six runs (five earned) over six innings in the next encounter April 30. Control has been a problem of late for the 29-year-old, who has walked 11 batters over his last 17 2/3 innings after issuing just four free passes in his first four starts. Lester is 12-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 24 all-time starts against Toronto.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox DH David Ortiz has made life miserable for Ramon Ortiz, hitting 5-for-15 with four solo home runs.

2. Toronto's minus-50 run differential ranks second-worst in the majors.

3. Boston is 10-5 against AL East opponents this season, while the Blue Jays are 6-14.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 2