The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox continue an American League East series Tuesday night at historic Fenway Park

Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox

Toronto opened up its three-game set in Boston with a 9-7 win and has now posted a 4-6 record in the season series.  The Blue Jays have not won a season series at Fenway park since the 2007 campaign, posting a 13-19 record over that span.  Incredibly enough, the club is 23-22 on the road this season, winning four of its last five contests away from the Rogers Centre.  Outfielder Jose Bautista continues to be force to be reckoned with, hitting .349 with six home runs and 10 RBIs over his last 12 games.  Toronto is 7-2 in its last seven games versus left-handed starters.

Blue Jays starting pitcher Brett Cecil dropped his first start since April 20 last time out, allowing six runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 6-2 home loss to the Pirates.  The left-hander was 8-2 with a 5.26 ERA in 12 starts at Triple-A Las Vegas and is looking to regain his 2010 form that saw him tally a fantastic 11-2 mark and 3.47 ERA in 15 starts versus AL East opponents last year.  Cecil has recorded an even 3-3 mark and 6.15 ERA in six lifetime outings versus the Red Sox, including a 3-1 record and 6.94 ERA in four starts at Fenway Park.

Boston had its four-game winning streak snapped Monday and is just 7-8 in its last 15 contests overall.  The Red Sox have still remained one of the hottest clubs in baseball, winning 19 of their last 28 games, outscoring opponents 174-107 over that span.  Tonight’s contest will be the second game of a seven-game homestand, as the club has posted a 20-13 mark at Fenway Park since April 16, the best mark by an AL team in that time.  Boston is 14-4 in its last 18 games versus southpaw starters and 8-3 when facing teams with a losing record.

Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester picked up a solid 5-2 road win in his last effort in Philadelphia, giving up just two hits and striking out five in seven scoreless frames.  The left-hander has recorded an even 3-3 mark and 4.54 ERA in six home outings, as opponents are hitting .299 against him.  In 16 career starts versus the Blue Jays, Lester is a fantastic 9-4 with a 3.40 ERA, including a 14-1 road win on June 12.  He surrendered just a single run and two hits in eight innings in that particular outing.

Bettors will be interested in backing the Red Sox due to their 42-14 mark in Lester’s starts as a home favorite, while the Blue Jays are 1-4 in Cecil’s last five outings