Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

(Sports Network) - Roy Halladay has the unenviable task of slowing down a red- hot Boston Red Sox lineup this evening when the Toronto Blue Jays open a three-game series against them at Fenway Park.

Halladay enters tonight's tilt with the third-best earned run average in the American League at 2.72, but will have his hands full with a Red Sox offense which has come alive of late.

Boston outscored the Texas Rangers 37-21 this week in sweeping a three-game set, culminating with a 10-0 drubbing in Thursday's finale. David Ortiz belted a three-run homer as part of a nine-run second inning, while Dustin Pedroia finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run batted in, and Jed Lowrie ended with three hits and an RBI to help the Red Sox to their fourth straight win.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (14-2) had more than enough support, as he surrendered six hits with five walks over seven scoreless innings to win his third consecutive start.

Since Manny Ramirez was shipped to Los Angeles, Boston's lineup has managed a league-best 7.23 runs per game, compared to the 4.94 runs per contest it had managed with the enigmatic outfielder.

Boston is also 10-3 since the trade.

Tonight, the Red Sox unveil their newest acquisition, as veteran right-hander Paul Byrd makes his Boston debut. Byrd, who was acquired from Cleveland for a player to be named later on Tuesday, takes the spot left vacated by the injured Tim Wakefield.

Byrd, though, struggled for the Indians this season, going just 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA. However, he won his final four starts with the Tribe, including a victory over Halladay and the Jays the last time he toed the rubber on Saturday.

Halladay, meanwhile, will be pitching on an extra day of rest after tossing a career-high 130 pitches in losing to Cleveland on Saturday. The former Cy Young Award winner lost for the second time in three starts, as he gave up four runs (one earned) and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings of that one, dropping him to 13-9 on the season.

The 31-year-old righty has had his share of problems with the Red Sox over the course of his career, posting a 10-11 mark against them with a 4.66 ERA in 34 games, 31 of which have been starts. He was a hard-luck loser the last time he faced Boston, as he surrendered just a run and five hits in 8 2/3 innings of a 1-0 loss.

Toronto comes into this series on a sour note after it was denied a sweep in its four-game series with the Detroit Tigers, dropping a 5-1 decision in Thursday's finale at Comerica Park. Lyle Overbay provided the offense for the Blue Jays, who lost for only the fourth time in their last 11 tries.

Jason Frasor (1-2) was charged with the loss as he was responsible for all five runs while recording just one out.

Toronto has won four of its six matchups with the Red Sox this season and eight of 10 dating back to last year.