Blue Jays and Red Sox Set To Do Battle

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox will start a three-game division series tonight.

The game is noteworthy as both teams are in the American League East. The AL East is the most competitive in the MLB, with all the teams in the division still in a position to contend for the early lead. Only four wins separate the first and last place teams in the AL East.

The Red Sox are the defending World Series champs, but are currently on a four-game skid. It is the first time that they have lost four consecutive games since the 2012 season.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are enjoying their new position as contenders after spending most of last season in last place in the division.

The first game in the series will be at Fenway. The ‘Jays will call upon J.A. Happ to pitch. Happ had some trouble against Los Angeles a couple weeks ago when he was pulled after 2 1/3 innings. He bounced back with a win against the Cleveland Indians this past Thursday. In the game, he allowed six hits and only one earned run. He struck out four and walked two.

Happ’s biggest challenge will be David Ortiz. Ortiz has reached base in 18 of his last 19 games at Fenway. He has four homers and 14 RBIs this season.

Felix Doubront will take the mound for Boston. Doubront is 2-3 this season with a 4.54 ERA. Doubront is working on shading his “inconsistent” label by turning in four quality starts over his last eight games. In his last outing he held the Minnesota Twins to just one run over six innings. He allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out five batters.

The series is set to start on Tuesday with the Red Sox as the favorites to win the first game.