Boston @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 8, 2018 ) Boston 10, Toronto 5

The Boston Red Sox have a chance to pick up their second straight sweep and 12th overall when they wrap up a three-game set at the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. After a stirring four-game sweep of the rival New York Yankees at home, the Red Sox have produced 20 runs, 21 hits and 13 walks while claiming the first two games in Toronto.

Rafael Devers homered in his return from the disabled list and J.D. Martinez added to his American League-leading hits total (138) with three more and an RBI in Wednesday's 10-5 triumph. Xander Bogaerts chipped in three RBIs for first-place Boston, which improved to 39-19 on the road, 55-7 when scoring first and 58-9 when scoring at least five runs, something it has done four times during its six-game winning streak. Justin Smoak has been one of the Blue Jays' few bright spots of late and he had three hits Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to 12, the longest streak by a Toronto player this year. Rick Porcello is coming off his 10th career complete game and will try to duplicate the performance when he gets the start for the Red Sox on Thursday opposite lefty Ryan Borucki.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (14-4, 3.84 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (1-2, 2.30)

Porcello limited the Yankees to one hit - a solo home run - while striking out nine in his dominant win at home Friday night. He is 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA in three starts since he was lit up by Toronto (eight runs in two innings) at Fenway Park on July 13. That continued Porcello's career-long struggles versus the Blue Jays, against whom he has a 5.26 ERA in 24 games (23 starts).

Borucki has not allowed an earned run in two of his last three starts, including an eight-inning gem at Seattle on Friday. He has an ERA of 0.90 over the three-start stretch, during which the 24-year-old has walked just one batter in 20 innings. The surge began after Borucki gave up seven runs (four earned) in three frames opposite Porcello last month in Boston.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox optioned INF Tony Renda to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for Devers.

2. Smoak is batting .353 during his 12-game hitting streak.

3. Martinez is 13-for-28 with two homers and nine RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 4