Just when it seemed like the Sox were back to their old dominant ways, the Yankees and Rangers came to town and knocked them to a 2-4 record in their last six games, almost completely undoing the good from their 6-2 runs in Kansas City and Texas.
Still, it's understandable to see a team lose a pair of series to a couple of playoff teams. What would not be so understandable is going into Toronto immediately after and not coming away with a win in the 4-game series there.
So it is that the Sox enter Toronto not necessarily in a traditional "must-win" situation, but in dire need of a series win none-the-less. They've fallen 1.5 games behind the Yankees, and unless they want to re-establish the losing pattern of the first half of August, they've just got to win.
Unfortunately, with both Tim Wakefield and Andrew Miller expected to start in the series, things look a bit grim there.
Boston Red Sox (84-55) At Toronto Blue Jays (69-71)
Monday, September 5, 1:07 p.m.
NESN
Josh Beckett (12-5, 2.54) vs. Henderson Alvarez (1-2, 3.52 ERA)
Tuesday, September 6, 7:07 p.m.
NESN
Jon Lester (14-6, 3.05 ERA) vs. Luis Perez (3-2, 3.77 ERA)
Wednesday, September 7, 7:07 p.m.
NESN
Tim Wakefield (6-6, 4.95 ERA) vs. Brandon Morrow (9-10, 4.78 ERA)
Thursday, September 8, 7:07 p.m.
NESN
Andrew Miller (6-2, 5.27 ERA) vs. Ricky Romero (13-10, 2.97 ERA)