Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Odds, Picks and Preview

The Boston Red Sox are playing better after a rough start, but they'd surely like to enjoy an easy win for a change.

They may get their wish Wednesday night.

Seeking a three-game sweep in Toronto, the Red Sox will send Jon Lester to the mound against the Blue Jays' Brett Cecil - a pitcher Boston dominated last season.

Following a 4-9 start, Boston (10-11) has won six of eight, but it hasn't been easy. All six wins have come by one-run margins, as have their last five games overall. Boston's nine one-run games are the most in the majors.

One-run games won by the Red Sox are about all the first two games of this series have had in common. After prevailing in a 13-12 slugfest Monday, Boston won 2-1 Tuesday behind eight strong innings from Clay Buchholz.

Trying to salvage one win in the season's first month, Lester is seeking to overcome his own history. He is 2-6 with a 5.12 lifetime ERA in March and April, compared with 40-12 and a 3.50 ERA in all other months.

Lester appeared to be shaking off his early-season doldrums Friday, when he threw 5 2-3 scoreless innings against Baltimore, but wound up without a decision after the Boston bullpen squandered a three-run lead en route to an eventual 4-3 victory.

Blue Jays slugger Adam Lind is 4 for 8 in this series, but 2 for 14 with eight strikeouts against Lester.

The last three series between these AL East rivals have ended in sweeps, with Boston winning two.