Toronto @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2014 ) Toronto 14, Boston 1
Marcus Stroman gets another shot at hapless Boston on Tuesday when he leads the Toronto Blue Jays into the second of three games at the Red Sox. Stroman carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Boston last Thursday before serving up a leadoff single and settling for seven innings of shutout ball as Toronto picked up an 8-0 win. It was the second straight outing in which the 23-year-old threw seven scoreless frames.
The Blue Jays have won eight of 10 overall and the last-place Red Sox have been the primary victims, losing four straight to Toronto in a span of a week while totaling eight runs. Boosted by a 14-hit attack that included two home runs and five RBIs for Melky Cabrera, R.A. Dickey tossed seven solid innings to help the Blue Jays to a 14-1 rout in Monday's series opener. The surge has pushed Toronto to within 2 1/2 games of first-place Baltimore in the American League East.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNET (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (6-2, 3.21 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rubby De La Rosa (3-3, 3.54)
While Stroman has provided a big boost to the Blue Jays' chances down the stretch, most of his quality work has been done at home. Meanwhile, he has allowed seven earned runs in 14 1/3 innings as a starter on the road, including five runs in 3 2/3 frames at the Los Angeles Angels in his last appearance away from home on July 9. Overall, the former first-round pick is 5-2 with a 2.21 ERA as a starter.
De La Rosa was no match for Stroman in their encounter on Thursday, giving up seven runs (six earned) in four innings for his worst start in the big leagues. He has just six strikeouts against six walks in 16 innings over his last three outings. The 25-year-old is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto is averaging 7.1 runs during its current 6-1 run.
2. Red Sox DH David Ortiz has 13 RBIs over his last eight games.
3. The Blue Jays have won four straight at Boston.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 4