The Boston Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game set at Fenway Park. <\/p>\n
Toronto Blue Jays (23-22) at Boston Red Sox (20-23)<\/strong>
\nDate: Tuesday, May 20, 2014<\/strong>
\nTime: 7:10 PM ET<\/strong>
\nVenue: Fenway Park<\/strong>
\nCity: Boston, Massachusetts<\/strong>
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\nO\/U Odds: 9.5<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Boston -137, Toronto +127<\/strong>
\nPitching Matchup: LH J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.57 ERA) at LH Felix Doubront (2-3, 4.54 ERA)<\/strong>
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The Red Sox begin the series mired in a four-game losing streak, during which they scored just six runs, and are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Detroits Tigers, while the Blue Jays have wins in five of their last seven.<\/p>\n
The Boston Red Sox will send Felix Doubront out in hopes of getting out of their current four-game rut. It was Doubront who led the team to their last victory, a 9-4 triumph over the Minnesota Twins.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s been a tale of two seasons for Doubront, and his turnaround coincided with the changing of dates on the calendar. Doubront had a very forgettable April, during which he posted a 6.00 ERA and 1.71 WHIP.<\/p>\n
In the month of May, he\u2019s gone 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in his first three starts of the month. He had success against the Blue Jays a year ago, posting a 3.44 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP in three starts against them.
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\nThe Jays come to town without playing all that hot of late at the plate, posting a slash line of .222\/.296\/,388, striking out 81 times. That could mean some success for the rejuvenated Doubront in his home ballpark.<\/p>\nThe Blue Jays counter with J.A. Happ. He\u2019s been really hitter or miss in his three starts this season. He\u2019s gone 2-1 in those starts, throwing 11 innings of one-run ball in his two wins, while surrendering four runs in just 2 1\/3 innings in his lone loss.<\/p>\n
Happ fared well in two starts against the Red Sox a year ago. He posted a 2.00 ERA in two starts, though the team\u2019s patience at the plate really got to him. He allowed only four hits, but walked 10 batters.<\/p>\n
The Red Sox like to roll out a righty-heavy lineup when facing southpaws, though Jonny Gomes is just 1-for-12 against Happ, and David Ross is 0-for-3. Ross is likely to get the call with A.J. Pierzynski 2-for-25 over his last seven games.<\/p>\n
The current four-game losing streak the Red Sox are enduring is the longest the team has gone through since John Farrell took over as the team\u2019s manager prior to the 2013 season. The team will surely use their day off to find some answers, and they will look to get out of their rut in a hurry with an American League East rival in town.<\/p>\n
The Red Sox are 12-4 in Doubront\u2019s last 16 starts as a favorite, while the Blue jays are 1-4 in Happ\u2019s last five starts as an underdog.<\/p>\n