Tampa Bay @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 0, Boston 0

David Price seeks his fifth win in six starts and the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays look to move ahead of the host Boston Red Sox in the American League East on Monday in the makeup of Thursday's rained-out contest. Tampa Bay won two of the three games in last week’s series, and its Sunday loss to the New York Yankees was only its fourth in 25 games. Boston is one-half game ahead in the division after defeating Baltimore on Sunday.

The Red Sox led the AL East for 60 consecutive days before a loss to the Orioles on Friday put them behind the Rays. Boston's David Ortiz went 4-for-4 with a home run on Sunday, one day after being ejected and smashing a dugout phone with his bat. Tampa Bay rookie Wil Myers belted two homers and drove in four runs Sunday as the Rays dropped to 26-9 since promoting him from the minors.

TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH David Price (5-5, 3.75 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (7-4, 3.78)

Price defeated Boston in his last turn as he allowed one run and five hits in his third complete game in four starts. He struggled against Boston on May 15, when he gave up four runs in 2 1/3 innings and then went on the disabled list with a triceps injury. Price, who returned to action on July 2, is 9-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 18 career starts against the Red Sox.

Doubront had a three-start winning streak snapped Wednesday, when he gave up three runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings in a loss to Tampa Bay. He had two no-decisions against the Rays earlier this season, including one on June 18 in which he allowed only three hits in eight scoreless frames. Doubront is 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 10 career appearances (seven starts) versus Tampa Bay.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia is mired in a 2-for-31 slump but has a .308 average in 39 career at-bats against Price.

2. Tampa Bay’s Luke Scott has two homers in 13 career at-bats versus Doubront.

3. Red Sox 1B Mike Napoli has a .286 average against Price but has fanned in 12 of his 21 career at-bats against last season’s AL Cy Young Award winner.

PREDICTION: Rays 2, Red Sox 1