Boston @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2018 ) Toronto 2, Boston 5

The surging Boston Red Sox brought out the brooms against an age-old rival to lift their spirits, douse those of their foes and strengthen a hold atop the American League East. Winners of 23 of the last 28, the Red Sox (79-34) aim to continue their good fortune north of the border as they begin a nine-game road trip on Tuesday with the opener a three-game series against the Blue Jays (51-60).

"Everybody knew how big this series was. We came in and did what we wanted to do. ... Every win counts the same, but now again we have to re-shift our focus toward Toronto," Andrew Benintendi told reporters after recording his third career walk-off RBI with a single in the 10th inning of Sunday's 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees. The 24-year-old Benintendi is a robust 34-for-88 with 13 RBIs and 19 runs scored in his last 22 contests for Boston, which has outscored its foes by 72 runs during its last 28 games. The Red Sox have ravaged Toronto this season with wins in 10 of the 13 encounters, and the Blue Jays return home after Sunday's 6-3 setback in Seattle. Aledmys Diaz went 7-for-13 with three homers, five RBIs and six runs scored in that series, but is just 1-for-16 against the Red Sox this season.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Drew Pomeranz (1-5, 6.56 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (4-8, 5.63)

Pomeranz lost his third straight start and fell to 0-4 in his past seven last Tuesday after allowing two runs on four hits with four walks in five innings of a 3-1 setback versus Philadelphia. The 29-year-old owns a 2-1 mark with a 3.74 ERA at Rogers Centre after permitting three runs on five hits and five walks in four frames of a no-decision on May 13. Justin Smoak is 5-for-12 versus Pomeranz, however the hurler has flustered Yangervis Solarte (0-for-9).

Stroman answered two strong starts with a disastrous one on Wednesday, as he yielded a season-high seven earned runs on 11 hits over five innings of an 8-3 setback at Oakland. The 27-year-old's loss was his first since getting gashed for four runs in five innings of a 5-2 defeat at Boston on July 15. Xander Bogaerts belted a first-inning homer in that contest and is 11-for-29 in his career versus Stroman.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston OF J.D. Martinez has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 contests.

2. Blue Jays OF Curtis Granderson, who has hit safely in four straight games overall, is just 4-for-23 with eight strikeouts versus the Red Sox this season.

3. Boston OF Mookie Betts' last five homers and nine of his past 12 have given his team a lead.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 2