Boston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( May 14, 2013 ) Boston 3, Tampa Bay 5

The Tampa Bay Rays are on a roll with six straight victories, so it's probably only a matter of time before David Price joins the fun. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner has one win after eight starts and will oppose the undefeated Jon Lester when the Rays host the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. Price was a 2-1 loser in Boston against Lester on April 13. Tampa Bay defeated Boston 5-3 on Tuesday for its first win in four tries against the Red Sox this season.

Lester pitched a one-hit shutout in his last start - a 5-0 victory over Toronto on Friday - and is 5-0 for the first time since his rookie season of 2006. Boston has lost three straight and nine of its last 11 games as some of its biggest stars are not producing. Designated hitter David Ortiz hit a three-run homer Tuesday, but has two hits in his last 24 at-bats as he battles a sore oblique. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is 5-for-37 in his last nine games and has two extra-base hits in his last 17 contests. Dustin Pedroia, though, is red-hot. The diminutive second baseman has six multi-hit games in his last eight contests and is 15-for-32 during that span.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, NESN (Boston), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (5-0, 2.73 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (1-3, 4.78)

It appeared Lester was poised to throw his second no-hitter until Maicer Izturis hit a two-out double in the sixth inning - the only batter to reach for Toronto. The 29-year-old Tacoma, Wash., native struggled a bit in his previous three turns, allowing 12 runs and all four home runs he has allowed this season in 17 2/3 innings. Lester is 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 23 starts against the Rays and snapped a four-game losing streak against them last month when he allowed a run in seven innings.

Tampa Bay has won twice in Price's last three starts after losing all of his first five turns. The 27-year-old Nashville, Tenn., native allowed four runs (two earned) in seven innings against Toronto on Thursday, but got a no-decision in the Rays' 5-4 victory. Price's win came three starts back - an 8-3 victory over the White Sox in Chicago on April 28 when he allowed three runs and struck out a season-high nine in seven innings. Price is 8-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 16 starts against Boston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston's Mike Napoli is tied for third in the major leagues with 33 RBIs, but has only two in his last 12 games. He is 4-for-17 - all singles - with 11 strikeouts against Price.

2. Tampa Bay CF Desmond Jennings returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing three games because of a groin injury and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

3. Boston RF Shane Victorino was back in the lineup and went 0-for-4 on Tuesday, two days after crashing into the wall at Fenway Park and leaving the game with injured ribs.

PREDICTION: Rays 3, Red Sox 2