Boston @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2013 ) Boston 7, Tampa Bay 3

The Tampa Bay Rays seem to be trying their hardest not to make the playoffs. The Rays look to avoid a three-game sweep and keep hold of their one-game lead for the second American League wild card when they host the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. The Red Sox opened their lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East to 9 1/2 games on Wednesday, when pinch hitter Mike Carp delivered a grand slam in the 10th inning of a 7-3 triumph.

The Rays are a major league-worst 4-13 since they were tied for the division lead on Aug. 24, and are averaging 2.6 runs in that span. There are four teams within two games of Tampa Bay for that second wild card, with the New York Yankees the closest. While the Rays have folded, the Red Sox have surged, winning 14 of their last 17 to drop their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to six and the division to eight.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Jake Peavy (11-5, 4.01 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (11-8, 5.04)

Peavy had a streak of four straight starts of allowing two or fewer runs come to an end last time out, when he was reached for four in six innings against the New York Yankees. The veteran settled for a no-decision in that start and is 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA in seven outings since joining the Red Sox before the trade deadline. Peavy faced Tampa Bay as a member of the Chicago White Sox on April 26 and yielded three runs over 6 2/3 frames to pick up a win.

Hellickson snapped a six-start winless streak by holding the Los Angeles Angels to four hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings on Sept. 4. The 26-year-old, who is suffering through his worst season since joining the major-league rotation, has not recorded an out in the seventh inning in any of his last 10 starts. Hellickson was strong in two outings against Boston earlier in the season, allowing two runs over seven innings on April 15 and two in six frames on June 19.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox closer Koji Uehara set a franchise record by retiring his 34th consecutive batter on Wednesday. Ellis Kinder set the previous mark of 32 in 1952.

2. Tampa Bay OF Matt Joyce is 2-for-33 in his last 11 games.

3. Boston 1B Mike Napoli is 12-for-25 with 11 RBIs and nine runs scored in his last eight contests.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Rays 2