After a successful road trip, Red Sox start series against Jays

The Boston Red Sox are looking to get the best of an American League East rival for the second week in a row as they begin another three-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, who head to Fenway Park for the first time this season on Monday.

It was a winning period for Boston, which took series from the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees on their final homestand before going 5-1 on a trip through Toronto and Cincinnati.

The Red Sox are 9-2 over their past 11 games after coming home from a 7-4 win over the Reds on Sunday that moved them into the third wild-card position in the American League.

Boston manager Alex Cora sees a talented team from top to bottom that is “playing with joy.”

“We went with a squad that we had some doubts about early in the season and now it feels like it’s one of the best squads position-wise we’ve had in a while,” Cora said. “From one to 13, we’re not afraid to play against them. We’re in a good spot right now.”

Jarren Duran capped a highlight-reel run on Sunday with a 3-for-5 performance, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. He also stole his 20th base.

“He works so hard and he now understands what he has to do to play every day, to keep his energy in the right way,” Cora said.

Of course, starting pitching has also been a big strength. Tanner Houck (7-5, 2.14 ERA) will pitch Monday.

Houck allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings Tuesday in Toronto. The right-hander had a streak of five consecutive appearances of at least six innings, but the Red Sox ultimately ran out 4-3 winners en route to the series sweep.

Houck, who is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in six career outings (five starts) against Toronto, still has not allowed more than three earned runs in twelve straight starts through April 12.

“I always knew I could do better,” Houck said recently. “I always knew I had the ability to do it and it was just a matter of putting it together.”

The Blue Jays are moving in the opposite direction after losing six straight and falling to seven games under .500 after sweeping Cleveland.

In addition to the extended skid, Orelvis Martinez – the organization’s star who recorded his first Major League hit on Friday – was handed an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

“We’re in a tough spot right now,” Toronto manager John Schneider said.

The Blue Jays rallied late on Sunday, leaving two runners on base in the ninth.

Still, Spencer Horwitz hit his first two home runs of the season and scored three runs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also had two hits, including his own long ball.

“It was kind of the story of the season: not scoring as much as possible and giving up more than necessary,” Schneider said.

Replacing Martinez, Steward Berroa was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and made a late game appearance in center field. It was his MLB debut after climbing the ladder since 2017.

“I think a lot of players in the minor leagues sometimes have that thought where you don’t think the dream is going to come true,” Berroa said. “But at the end of the day, I’m just a warrior. I like being in tough moments. … I just keep going.”

The Blue Jays have not yet announced any starting pitchers for the series in Boston.

–Field-level media