Tampa Bay @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 19, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 6, Boston 2

The Tampa Bay Rays have charged into contention in the American League East and can ascend to the top of the division when they open a four-game series at the first-place Boston Red Sox on Monday night. The Rays have ripped off 17 wins in 19 games to pull within 1 1/2 games of Boston and have the luxury of trotting out 13-game winner Matt Moore in the series opener. The All-Star left-hander has played a pivotal role in Tampa Bay's resurgence and is riding a five-start winning streak.

Moore gives the Rays a decided edge in the pitching matchup against rookie Brandon Workman, who is set to make his second major-league start. The Red Sox, in the midst of a 10-game stretch against their three closest AL East pursuers, took two of three from the New York Yankees over the weekend to become the first team in baseball to reach 60 wins. Boston has dominated the season series against Tampa Bay, winning nine of 12 overall and going 5-1 at home.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Matt Moore (13-3, 3.44 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Brandon Workman (0-0, 5.40)

Moore has permitted seven runs and only 18 hits while striking out 40 over 33 innings during his last five outings to become the first pitcher in franchise history to win 13 games by the All-Star break. Moore beat the Red Sox on May 14. allowing three runs in six innings, but has been knocked around for seven runs in 9 1/3 innings in two appearances in Boston. Red Sox DH David Ortiz is 5-for-10 with a homer against him.

Workman's first career start was a memorable one - he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Oakland on July 14 but gave up a tying two-run homer and did not factor in the decision in a 6 1/3-inning stint. "This is a guy who has a quiet confidence about him and doesn't fear the setting in which he's performing in," Boston manager John Farrell said. Workman is a combined 8-2 at Triple-A and Double-A this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays rookie RF Wil Myers (wrist) sat out Sunday's game. He is 14-for-28 with six multiple-hit games in his last seven.

2. Red Sox DH Mike Napoli had two homers Sunday, including the decisive blast in Boston's major league-best ninth walk-off victory.

3. Rays DH Luke Scott has four homers and 10 RBIs during a career-best 13-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Red Sox 2