Toronto @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2018 ) Toronto 13, Boston 7

The Boston Red Sox have not lost consecutive games at home in more than a month, a streak they hope to keep intact when they resume a four-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. Boston, which owns the best record in the majors, had its 10-game winning streak halted with a 13-7 setback on Friday night.

Designated hitter Justin Smoak homered twice and had four RBIs and Kevin Pillar also drove in four runs as part of a four-hit night as Toronto ended a string of six straight losses to the Red Sox. Smoak extended his hitting streak to seven games, a stretch during which he's smacked five homers and had 10 RBIs. Boston's Mookie Betts, who belted a grand slam in the series opener, went 3-for-4 with a pair of triples and two RBIs to lift his major league-leading average to .357. J.D. Martinez, who is tied for the most homers in baseball with 28, has hit safely in nine games in a row and is batting .330.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet, TVAS (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Sam Gaviglio (2-3, 4.70 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (11-3, 3.62)

Marco Estrada, scheduled to start Saturday, was placed on the disabled list Friday with a strained glute, giving Gaviglio a chance to atone for a wretched outing at Atlanta on Wednesday. He lasted only 1 2/3 innings and was hammered for six runs on six hits to remain winless over his last eight appearances. That stretch started with a loss at Boston on May 30, when Gaviglio gave up four runs over six innings.

Rodriguez closed out June with back-to-back defeats, giving up five runs in each, but he has rebounded by tossing 11 2/3 scoreless innings over two wins this month while permitting three hits in each victory. He got the best of Gaviglio on May 30, limiting the Blue Jays to two runs on three hits over 6 2/3 innings to beat them for the second time this season. Rodriguez owns a 3-3 record with a 5.09 ERA in his career versus Toronto.

WALK-OFFS

1. Betts has 10 three-hit games and 33 multiple-hit contests this season.

2. Smoak has an extra-base hit in seven consecutive games.

3. Red Sox OF Andrew Benintendi was placed on the bereavement list Friday.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 4