Tampa Bay @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 3, Boston 0

The Tampa Bay Rays have been the hottest team in baseball over the last month and are on the verge of taking away first place in the American League East. The Boston Red Sox, who host the Rays on Tuesday, are the team standing in the way at the top of the division. Tampa Bay has won 14 of its last 15 games and 21 of 25, including a 3-0 triumph in Monday’s series opener, to pull to within a half-game of the Red Sox.

Boston leads the majors in runs scored but could not get anything done against Rays left-hander Matt Moore on Monday. The pitching has been the key to Tampa Bay's latest surge, as Rays starters have allowed three earned runs or fewer in 27 of the last 30 games. The Red Sox got some good news in regards to All-Star Clay Buchholz on Monday and have three more against Tampa Bay this week to spread out the gap in the division.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Roberto Hernandez (5-10, 4.90 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (8-6, 4.58)

Hernandez has posted four straight quality starts but has failed to get past the sixth inning in any of the last three. The sinkerball specialist has surrendered 18 home runs in as many starts and could be in danger of losing his job with Alex Cobb working his way back from a concussion. Hernandez earned a win against the Red Sox on June 11, yielding three runs on eight hits in seven innings.

Lester was initially scheduled to start on Sunday but was pushed back to get some extra rest after a long first half. The veteran left-hander has gotten himself into a rut and has posted a 2-6 record with a 6.27 ERA and a .307 batting average against over his last 11 starts. The worst turn in that span came at Tampa Bay on June 11, when Lester was knocked around for seven runs on eight hits - including three home runs - in 4 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays RF Wil Myers (sore wrist) has been held out of the last two games and is day-to-day.

2. Boston C David Ross (concussion) has been rehabbing in Florida and is expected to rejoin the team this week to continue activities.

3. Tampa Bay (18-2) is the fourth team in the last 10 years to record at least 18 wins in a 20-game stretch.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Rays 4