Cleveland @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 24, 2013 ) Cleveland 1, Boston 8

The Boston Red Sox have battled their former manager to a draw over the first two games of the series. The Red Sox will be looking for the lead in the four-game series when they send Jon Lester to the mound against Terry Francona and the Cleveland Indians on Saturday. Francona earned an outpouring of support from the fans each of the first two days, but his former players were not so welcoming in an 8-1 drubbing Friday.

Francona, who won the World Series with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007, took a 12-3 win in his return on Thursday but could not instruct his current players on how to deal with former players John Lackey, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury on Friday. That marked the third loss in the last four games for the Indians, who have started to slow after a long climb to the top of the American League Central over the previous three weeks. Boston has won two of three and is trying to earn its first home series victory since sweeping a four-game set from the lowly Houston Astros from April 25-28.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians LH Scott Kazmir (2-2, 6.35 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (6-1, 3.15)

Kazmir has come back down after a strong three-start stretch bridging April and May. The veteran left-hander has been knocked around for nine runs and 13 hits in eight total innings over his last two turns. Kazmir has a long history against Boston from when he was the ace of the Tampa Bay staff last decade and owns a 6-5 record with a 3.90 ERA in 15 career starts at Fenway Park.

Lester is coming off his own poor outing, a six-inning stint in Chicago in which he yielded six runs (five earned) on seven hits to suffer his first loss. The lefty struck out a season-low two in that outing and walked three after going two straight starts without issuing a free pass. Lester had an easy time with Cleveland on April 18, allowing two runs on four hits in seven innings to pick up the win. He is 6-1 with a 3.27 ERA in 12 career starts against the Indians.

WALK-OFFS

1. The game was delayed 44 minutes at the start and played under a light rain on Friday, and more harsh weather is expected for Saturday.

2. Boston C David Ross (concussion), who was activated from the 7-day DL on Friday, could get his first start since May 11 on Saturday.

3. Cleveland LF Michael Brantley is 10-for-24 over his last six games.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 7, Indians 5