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Red Sox-Blue Jays Preview

Jul 18, 2009 - 4:46 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Boston (54-34) at Toronto (44-46), 1:07 p.m. EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays' early division lead vanished soon after they began playing their AL East opponents. The Boston Red Sox have only been strengthened by their meetings with the rest of the toughest division in the majors.

The Red Sox go for their fifth straight victory and try to widen their East lead Saturday when they continue a three-game series in Toronto.

The Blue Jays led the division for most of April and early May, but the team didn't play an East foe until May 1. Toronto didn't face Boston, New York or Tampa Bay before May 12.

Toronto (44-47) hasn't played nearly as well since beginning its East schedule, going 9-20 in division play. It has dropped 13 of 16 overall to slide from contention, averaging 3.3 runs during that span.

The Jays lost 4-1 in Friday's series opener as the Red Sox continued to dominate division opponents. Boston is 23-9 against the East and 5-2 versus Toronto.

The Red Sox (55-34) stayed three games ahead of the second-place Yankees on Friday, leading throughout after Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Youkilis has three home runs in his last two games at Rogers Centre, and is hitting in a lineup that's quickly getting healthier.

Mike Lowell was activated from the disabled list for Friday's game and went 2 for 4. Shortstop Jed Lowrie is expected to return Saturday and see his first action since April 11 following wrist surgery, prompting veteran Julio Lugo to be designated for assignment.

Lowrie will share shortstop duties with Nick Green.

"We felt like those two would be our best combination," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said.

Boston will try to extend its winning streak behind Brad Penny, who has allowed three runs or fewer in six straight outings.

Penny (6-3, 4.71 ERA) hasn't finished the seventh inning in any of his 17 starts, but he has been steady for the Red Sox, pitching at least five innings in 13 consecutive outings since the beginning of May.

The right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.19 ERA in six starts against the Blue Jays, but he will have to be careful with Toronto's Alex Rios, who is 5 for 6 with three doubles against him this year and 8 for 11 all-time in the matchup.

Penny will have a number of tough acts to follow. Since his last outing, Boston starters are 4-0 with a 0.65 ERA. Clay Buchholz saw his first major league action in nearly 11 months Friday and allowed one run in 5 2-3 innings, but was immediately sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket.

"The starting rotation they have here right now is pretty unbelievable," Buchholz said.

Toronto's rotation has been decimated by injury, resulting in rookie Marc Rzepcynski (0-1, 3.00) making his first two career starts this month.

The left-hander suffered a 4-2 loss at Baltimore on Sunday, allowing three runs in six innings.

Rzepcynski will make his home debut in place of Brian Tallet, the originally scheduled starter. Tallet will move to the bullpen and the Blue Jays, with six days off in the next 32 days, will use a four-man rotation.