Toronto @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2013 ) Toronto 6, Boston 2

The Boston Red Sox missed out on an opportunity to become the first team to reach 50 wins in the American League after falling on Saturday. The Red Sox will give that another shot and look to clinch a four-game series when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale on Sunday. The Blue Jays had dropped below .500 with losses in the first two games but jumped back to even with Saturday’s 6-2 triumph.

Boston broke out its league-leading offense to win four straight games with an average of 7.5 runs, but had a pair of runners thrown out at the plate and struggled to 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position in Saturday’s setback. The Blue Jays appeared to be jumping back into the race in the AL East with 11 straight wins but have lost four of six on the current seven-game road trip. A win in Sunday’s finale would allow Toronto to go into a seven-game homestand on Monday above .500.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Rogers SportsNet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (4-5, 4.73) vs. Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (5-8, 4.15 ERA)

Buehrle had a string of solid performances come to an end on Tuesday, when he was reached for four runs on eight hits in five innings to absorb the loss at Tampa Bay. The 34-year-old lefty issued a season-high four walks in that start, matching his total from the previous three outings. Buehrle was roughed up by Boston on May 1 but bounced back to earn a win over the Red Sox 10 days later, yielding one run in seven strong frames.

Dempster has posted six straight quality starts despite surrendering at least one home run in each of those outings. The British Columbia native limited the Colorado Rockies to two runs on six hits in six innings to post a win on Tuesday. Dempster suffered through one of his worst starts against Toronto on May 12, when he was roughed up for six runs on seven hits - including three homers - in five innings to suffer the loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox SS Stephen Drew missed Saturday’s game after tweaking a hamstring. He remains day-to-day.

2. Toronto RF Jose Bautista belted a pair of home runs on Saturday, the 200th and 201st of his career.

3. Boston CF Jacoby Ellsbury has hit safely in 10 straight games.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 4