Boston @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2012 ) Boston 3, Baltimore 4

The Baltimore Orioles are back in a tie for first place in the American League East with the New York Yankees. The Boston Red Sox have served their purpose so far, putting up very little fight in dropping the first two games of the series. The Red Sox, who are now alone in the AL East basement, will have to start playing better on Monday, when the Orioles need them to battle the Yankees.

Baltimore has won three straight to draw even with New York in both the division and atop the wild card race. While both teams will likely make the playoffs, the division winner is guaranteed more than one playoff game. The Orioles finish the season with three games at red-hot Tampa Bay and could need the Red Sox, who finish at the Bronx, to show some fight in the final week. Chris Davis and Manny Machado have done much of the damage against Boston in the first two games of the series, with Davis homering in both contests and Machado totaling three RBIs.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Zach Stewart (1-3, 7.91 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Joe Saunders (2-3, 3.62)

Stewart was acquired from the Chicago White Sox as part of the Kevin Youkilis trade in June and has spent most of his time in the organization at Triple-A Pawtucket. The right-hander, who turned 26 on Friday, made one start for Boston and was lit up for nine runs on 10 hits in three innings at Los Angeles on Aug. 29. Stewart made two relief appearances against Baltimore as a member of the White Sox in April and was charged with six runs (one earned) on six hits in two total frames.

Saunders has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last five starts but was knocked around for 11 hits and four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings to suffer a loss at Toronto on Tuesday. The veteran left-hander has not walked more than two batters in any of his six turns since joining the Orioles and has some history against the Red Sox. Saunders is 4-2 with a 4.17 ERA in nine career starts versus Boston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore claimed OF/1B Steve Pearce off waivers. Pearce, who was with the Orioles earlier in the season, will join the team in Tampa on Monday but would be ineligible for the postseason roster.

2. Boston C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (25) needs one home run to match Carlton Fisk’s club record, set in 1973 and equaled in 1977.

3. Orioles RH Jason Hammel (knee) will pitch a simulated game on Monday in Florida and is still a possibility to pitch in a postseason game.