Red Sox Look to Keep Pace With AL East in Finale With Blue Jays

It's not as if the fate of the entire season rests on it, but the Red Sox' result Sunday in Toronto could offer up some indication for their chances going forward.

The Sox are 1-5 in their last six games after Saturday's 9-5 loss to the Blue Jays and another setback heading into the All-Star break would give them more work to do in the second half of the season.

As it stands, Boston is five games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the American League East and two back of Tampa Bay, which leads the wild-card race (and like the Yankees) is surging of late.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his fourth attempt at a sixth win when he toes the slab for the Sox in Rogers Centre, where he owns a 2.77 ERA in four career starts.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (50-37) at Blue Jays (44-44)
Sunday, July 11, 1:07 p.m.
Rogers Centre, Toronto

HEAD TO HEAD

Boston has won six of eight meetings this year, including four of five in Toronto.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (5-3, 4.71 ERA) vs. RHP Jesse Litsch (0-3, 7.30 ERA)

Perhaps it's fitting that a season filled with unexpected twists and turns enters the break with a start by Matsuzaka, who seemingly always has the ability to surprise.

The righty is coming off another lackluster effort six days ago at Tampa Bay. In a 6-5 loss to the Rays, Matsuzaka got a no-decision after giving up five runs — four earned — on eight hits in five innings.

Matsuzaka is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in his last three starts and has walked four batters in each outing.

Despite the recent struggles, Matsuzaka has reason to have confidence entering this one. In eight career starts against Toronto he is 5-1 with a 3.51 ERA. On May 11 at Fenway Park he yielded a run on three hits and fanned nine in seven innings of a 6-1 win over the Jays.

Litsch is 4-1 with a 3.82 mark lifetime vs. Boston but has yet to get his first win of 2010. He has walked nine and struck out just seven in 24 2/3 innings so far.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Left fielder Daniel Nava has 16 RBIs in 23 games.
• After hitting at least .333 in each of the first three months, third baseman Adrian Beltre is 5-for-30 (.167) in July.
• The Sox have lost eight of their last 12 road games.

Blue Jays

• Right fielder Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 24th home run Saturday.
• Designated hitter Adam Lind's three-hit game Saturday was his first multi-hit effort since June 24.
• Toronto's bullpen has struck out 11 Red Sox hitters during 8 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Josh Beckett will make a rehab start at Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday.
• Righty-hander Clay Buchholz was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a left hamstring strain. He is expected to be the team's second starter after the All-Star break.
• Jason Varitek (foot) and Manny Delcarmen (forearm) were placed on the 15-day disabled list July 2.
• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 1 with a fracture in his left foot. He suffered the injury when he fouled a ball off his foot the day before. He will not put any weight on the foot for another week or two before being re-examined.
• Catcher Victor Martinez was put on the DL on June 28 with a minimally displaced fracture on the tip of his left thumb, suffered after taking two foul balls off the thumb during a game in San Francisco. Martinez may not be ready to return after the All-Star break.
• Outfielder Jeremy Hermida is close to beginning a rehab stint as he works his way back from five broken ribs suffered in a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury joined the team Friday in Toronto and will be evaluated by club medical officials before returning with the team to Boston and then continuing his rehab from a broken rib with the club's Gulf Coast League affiliate.
• Mike Lowell was eligible to return from the DL on Friday but was not with the team. There is no set date for him come back from a sore hip.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie has begun a rehab stint with the Lowell Spinners. It was about four months ago when Lowrie came down with mononucleosis.
• Righty Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Blue Jays

• Right-hander Shaun Marcum is on the DL with right elbow soreness. He hopes to return after the All-Star break.
• Outfielder Travis Snider hopes to return from a sprained right wrist after the All-Star break.
• Right-hander Dustin McGowan will miss the rest of the season and possibly all of 2011 following right shoulder surgery.

OUTLOOK

As satisfied as they were with the way things went Friday night in a 14-3 rout of the Jays, the Sox were equally frustrated Saturday in a game that saw Terry Francona and Mike Cameron ejected and John Lackey struggle with his command.

The Daisuke Matsuzaka we have seen the last three starts would simply add to that frustration. The one we saw four starts ago (8 IP, 4 H, O R in a win at Cleveland) would give them something to build on when the second half of the season resumes Thursday.