Boston @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2018 ) Cleveland 0, Boston 7

The Boston Red Sox have wrapped up their third consecutive American League East title and look to clinch the best record in the majors. Boston has a magic number of two over the Houston Astros in that quest as its opens a three-game series against the host Cleveland Indians on Friday.

The Red Sox (104-49) won the AL East crown with an 11-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday and need one more victory to tie the franchise mark held by the 1912 World Series championship team. Mookie Betts hit his 30th homer while going 4-for-5 with five RBIs in the victory, while J.D. Martinez drove in his major league-leading 124th run. Cleveland (85-67) lost 5-4 in 11 innings to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday to fall to 8-10 in September. Standout right-hander Trevor Bauer returns from the broken right fibula he suffered on August 11 and is expected to pitch the first two innings, while Boston ace Chris Sale takes the mound and will be limited to 65 pitches as he attempts to rebuild his strength after recent shoulder soreness.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN2, NESN (Boston), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (12-4, 1.92 ERA) vs. Indians RH Trevor Bauer (12-6, 2.22)

Sale pitched three innings of one-hit scoreless ball in his last tuneup against the New York Mets on Sunday. The 29-year-old has won seven consecutive decisions since losing to the Chicago White Sox on June 8. Sale hasn't faced Cleveland this season and is 5-8 with a 4.78 ERA in 29 career appearances (18 starts) versus the Indians.

Bauer won four consecutive starts and five straight decisions before going on the disabled list with the leg injury. The 27-year-old has stood out at home, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.87 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 12 starts. Bauer is 2-2 with a horrific 8.24 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Red Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts is 2-for-18 over the past five games.

2. Cleveland LF Michael Brantley had three hits Thursday for his fifth multi-hit outing in his last nine appearances.

3. Boston INF Eduardo Nunez (hamstring), who was injured Wednesday, isn't expected to return until early next week.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Red Sox 5