The set-up: The Red Sox got hot about the same time the Yankees went into a slump and Boston took over first-place in the AL East prior to the break. However, Boston began to 'cool off' before the break and heading into last night's game with Toronto was just 4-7 in its previous 11 games and had played 58 innings in a four-day span after Tuesday's 5-4 win in 15 innings. Boston manager John Farrell was grateful for a stress-free 5-1 win Wednesday night saying, "The fact that we played that game in under three hours, it felt like we were only at halftime," Farrell told reporters. With the Rays and Yankees both losing on Wednesday, the Red Sox lead Tampa Bay by three games and the Yankees by 4 1/2 games as they get set for Thursday afternoon's finale of this four-game series with Toronto. The 43-51 Blue Jays reside in the AL East basement, 10 games back of the Red Sox, as the team just hasn't been able to overcome a 2-11 start that led to an 8-17 record by the end of April.

The pitching matchup: Francisco Liriano (5-5 & 6.04 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto and Doug Fister (0-3 & 6.75 ERA) for Boston. Liriano lasted just two-plus innings in his last start, allowing five runs on three hits and four walks against the Tigers in an 11-1 loss on July 15. 2017 has been a struggle for Liriano with his 6.00-plus ERA, 1.67 WHIP and .283 BAA. He held Boston scoreless on four hits over 5 1/3 innings on April 19 but was ripped for five runs on seven hits in six innings by the Red Sox on July 1. That leaves him 4-4 with a 5.44 ERA in eight career starts against Boston. Fister was claimed off waivers from the LA Angels and made a decent season debut against his former club, taking the loss with six innings of three-run ball. He did not factor in the decision in his following start, allowing a three-run HR among four hits over five innings. He then allowed six runs at Texas in 3 2/3 innings before giving up three runs in relief during.a 16-inning loss to the Yankees last Saturday,

The pick: That 16-inning game has forced the Red Sox to shuffle their pitcher rotation. Overall, the Red Sox have played 67 innings in six games over five days! That said, the Blue Jays just can't seem to 'catch fire' and Liriano has been a 'nightmare' on the road this season, allowing 35 hits and 21 walks in just 27 innings. His away ERA is 8.33 and his road WHIP is 2.07! Fister has made eight career starts against Toronto and owns a respectable 3.69 ERA. Make Boston a 10* play.