Tampa Bay @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 23, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 2, Boston 6

The Boston Red Sox have reportedly come to an agreement on a $100 million contract extension with All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia and are riding high in first place in the American League East. The Tampa Bay Rays, who visit the Red Sox on Wednesday, have their own $100 million player in Evan Longoria and have a chance to take away first place. The Rays are 1 1/2 games behind Boston with two left in the series.

Longoria homered on Tuesday but it was not enough to give Tampa Bay a seventh straight win. The Rays have won 18 of their last 21 to come up on the Red Sox’s heels but could not keep the majors' top-scoring offense down two nights in a row after shutting out Bostonon Monday. Pedroia drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and stole a base on Tuesday, hours after news of his deal came out.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH David Price (4-5, 4.03 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (7-3, 3.76)

Price rediscovered his Cy Young form by posting a 1.08 ERA in three starts coming off the disabled list but struggled in his first outing after the All-Star break. The 27-year-old left-hander served up three home runs among seven hits in seven innings at Toronto on Friday but still managed to earn the win. Price’s last start before going on the DL came against Boston on May 15, when he was knocked around for four runs on five hits in 2 1/3 frames.

Doubront has quietly emerged as one of the best pitchers on the Red Sox staff by allowing two or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts. The Venezuelan left-hander held the New York Yankees to one earned run on three hits over 6 1/3 innings to pick up a win on Friday. Doubront had his best start of the season against Tampa Bay on June 18, scattering three hits in eight scoreless innings without walking a batter.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays starters have allowed three or fewer runs in 28 of the last 31 games.

2. Boston CF Jacoby Ellsbury got a rare day off against a right-handed pitcher on Tuesday but is expected to play against the lefty Price.

3. Tampa Bay RHP Alex Cobb (concussion) was forced to leave a rehab start on Tuesday after two pitches due to a blister.

PREDICTION: Rays 3, Red Sox 2