Red Sox Look to Continue Success Against Blue Jays

Another day, another opportunity to gain ground in the American League East.

The Red Sox left New York on Monday still confident they would make a push for the division crown. After improving to 3-2 on its 10-game road trip and winning for the 10th time in 15 games overall, Boston was within five games of the Yankees.

The deficit in the wild card race remains 4 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay. In order to stay in hot pursuit the Sox can turn to their best pitcher in Clay Buchholz. He meets Shaun Marcum in a rematch of a great duel between the two back on April 27.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (65-49) at Blue Jays (59-53)
Wednesday, Aug. 11, 7:07 p.m.
Rogers Centre, Toronto

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HEAD TO HEAD

The Sox lead the season series 8-2.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Clay Buchholz (12-5, 2.66 ERA) vs. RHP Shaun Marcum (10-5, 3.44 ERA)

While several of his fellow starters continue to be up and down, Buchholz continues to put forth a dominant campaign.

Pitching in Yankee Stadium under the lights on Friday, Buchholz allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings to improve to 7-2 on the road. The righty, who turns 26 on Saturday, is 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last three starts.

Buchholz owns a 2.15 ERA in five career starts in Toronto.

The Red Sox had great success against Blue Jays’ lefty Ricky Romero entering the Tuesday night series opener. It’s just the opposite against Marcum, who is 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 13 games and eight starts vs. Boston.

Included in that resume is a start in Fenway Park on May 12 in which Marcum yielded two hits in seven scoreless innings. He allowed just one run on four hits in seven frames in that duel with Buchholz earlier in the year.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Closer Jonathan Papelbon has allowed one run in 17 2/3 innings since a pair of rocky outings in Colorado in June.
• Shortstop Marco Scutaro is hitless in 15 at-bats.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is 3-for-6 over the last two games after an 0-for-23 stretch.

Blue Jays

• Outfielder Travis Snider is 9-for-27 (.333) with two home runs in August.
• Jose Bautista slugged his 35th home run in the opener, tops in the majors.
• Designated hitter Adam Lind was 0-for-19 in his career against Daisuke Matsuzaka before going 3-for-4 with a home run vs. the righty.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia (broken left foot) intensified his workouts Tuesday in Toronto and hopes to begin a rehab assignment Saturday in Pawtucket. He may be back in the lineup next Tuesday at home.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery Friday to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron is on the DL with a lower abdominal strain. He’s taking precaution with his return and is trying to rest as much as possible. Cameron was preparing to hit off a tee Sunday.
• Catcher Jason Varitek (broken right foot) hit on the field for the first time Sunday. He remains at least a week behind Pedroia in terms of his recovery.
• Left-hander Hideki Okajima was placed on the DL on Friday with a right hamstring strain.
• Righty Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Blue Jays

• Center fielder Vernon Wells is sidelined with a dislocated toe. He hopes to return within the week.
• Catcher John Buck is on the DL with a lacerated right thumb.
• Right-hander Dustin McGowan has missed the entire season following shoulder surgery.
• Right-hander Jesse Litsch is on the DL with a hip injury.

OUTLOOK

The way Buchholz has looked lately he figures to give the Red Sox a chance to win. The way Marcum has dominated Boston he figures to do the same.