Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox

The Toronto Blue Jays have got to hate the Boston Red Sox and not just because they, along with the New York Yankees have dominated the AL East since the Blue Jays ended their back-to-back World Series championships in 1993.

The Blue Jays (44-46) were MLB’s best team when they took on the Boston Red Sox (54-34) for the first time May 19-21. Many discounted Toronto’s hot start because they had not played anyone in the AL East, outside of Baltimore, and had beaten up on weaker AL Central and West teams.

Toronto lived down to everyones expectations and were swept in the three-game series in Boston and have never recovered and dipped under .500 for the first time all season just prior to the All-Star break.

It would appear that the Toronto Blue Jays season, now that they are buried 11 games behind the first-place Red Sox and are seeing the surging Tampa Bay Rays leave them in their wake in fourth place in the division, will be a spoiler role and they can start spoiling teams seasons, first and foremost when they take on Boston this weekend.

Toronto, despite their recent struggles, has been solid at home, going 25-18, including taking two of three from Boston May 29-31 and will try to do it again when they go with Ricky Romero (7-3, 3.00) to start the second half.

The rookie has been a good story in a season that has turned dismal. He is 4-0 in his last six starts, posting a 2.28 ERA, although he did not fare well against Boston in his only start against them, allowing five runs in four innings of a 8-2 loss on May 31 in Canada.

The first-place Boston Red Sox (three games ahead of the Yankees) begin their second half with Clay Buchholtz making his first start of the season.

Buchholtz has had an interesting career which has been dominated by the minor leagues. He has made 20 appearances in the big leagues, including a September 1, 2007 no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles, but has not been consistent enough to stay at the major league level.

His 2008 season was a disaster, posting a 6.75 ERA in losing his final seven decisions before being demoted on August 20.

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