Red Sox-Blue Jays (May 29, 30, & 31)

The Red Sox open an important series against their AL East rival Blue Jays beginning tonight in Toronto. The Blue Jays currently are only 3.5-games behind the Sox for first place. The Red Sox send the struggling Matt Clement (4-4, 6.31) to the mound tonight against Toronto's ace, Roy Halladay (6-1, 2.77). Clement just doesn't seem like he can pitch effectively right now -- he is falling behind in almost every count and looks to be hesitant to throw on the inner half of the plate. Clement may be looking at the bullpen. The game starts at 7:07 and will be broadcast on NESN and WEEI. On Tuesday night Josh Beckett (7-1, 3.80) will square off with Gustavo Chacin (5-1, 5.31) at 7:07 on NESN and WEEI. Beckett has been outstanding through his first two months with the Red Sox and although 22-year-old Hanley Ramirez, the key player involved in the Beckett trade, has been great in Florida (.324 BA, 2 HR, 18 RBI, .396 OBP), the addition of Beckett is one of the main reasons the Red Sox are playing as well as they are. Add Mike Lowell's contribution -- Lowell was a "throw in" in the trade -- and it seems the Red Sox got the best of the deal. And when the Marlins have another fire sale in a couple of years, Ramirez might just return to the Sox. In the series finale on Wednesday, Red Sox killer Ted Lilly (5-4, 4.00) faces David Wells (0-1, 8.64). Wells' return from the DL was going great on Friday night against Tampa Bay until he caught a line drive off the injured knee in the sixth inning. The Sox are saying Wells will be fine but that will have to be seen. This is a 7:07 start on NESN and WEEI.