Boston @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2019 ) Boston 3, Toronto 4

The Boston Red Sox have already been eliminated from contention for the American League East title and are watching their slim hopes for a wild-card berth fade away as they stumble down the stretch. The defending World Series champions hope to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat when they resume their three-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

Boston has scored only nine runs during its four-game slide despite the fifth home run in seven games by reigning AL MVP Mookie Betts, who has eight RBIs in that span. Rafael Devers collected his major league-leading 50th double in the series opener, the youngest Red Sox player to reach that mark and first since Dustin Pedroia in 2008. While Boston fell nine games behind Oakland for the second wild card with 17 to play, Toronto halted a season-worst seven-game losing streak with its first victory in September. Rowdy Tellez continued to torment the Red Sox with a tiebreaking two-run homer in the 4-3 win -- his sixth against them in 10 games this season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-10, 5.60 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Trent Thornton (4-9, 5.23)

Chacin was picked up by the Red Sox following his release from Milwaukee and served as the opener in his Boston debut against the New York Yankees on Friday, striking out four batters and not allowing a run or a hit in his two-inning stint. The 31-year-old Venezuelan, who went 0-7 over his last 12 starts with the Brewers, also tossed a scoreless inning of relief against the Yankees on Sunday. Chacin, who will be making his first appearance against the Blue Jays, has held Brandon Drury to 1-for-5.

Thornton extended his winless drought to six starts last time out at Tampa Bay, limiting the Rays to three runs (one earned) and four hits over 4 2/3 innings -- the third straight outing he failed to pitch beyond five innings. After a solid first start against Boston on June 21, the 25-year-old rookie was pummeled by the Red Sox in two subsequent outings, giving up a combined 12 runs and 16 hits over only four innings. Betts is 5-for-8 and Devers is 3-for-5 with a home run against Thornton.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts, who sat out Tuesday, needs one double to give the team two players with 50 for the first time in club history.

2. Blue Jays C Reese McGuire has multiple hits in four of the last seven games.

3. Red Sox LF Andrew Benintendi is 1-for-19 in his last six games.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4