Red Sox Series Preview: Round 2 at Blue Jays

May 5, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder

(50) rounds first base after hitting his second home run of the game during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox Key Players To Watch:

• Mookie Betts continues to create ‘MookieMania‘ with Red Sox Nation, hitting in big-game situations and playing incredible defense in center field. Recently, he has 3 home runs and 5 RBIs, which contributed to a win and a comeback, although the latter fell short of victory. A .250 batting average doesn’t seem like much, but it could be a sign of him turning the corner before the All-Star Game, as he was hitting less than .200 in April. With the way the ball carries in Toronto’s nest, bet on Betts making some diving catches against the Blue Jays.

• Third baseman Pablo Sandoval had 6 hits, a home run, and 3 RBIs the last time the Red Sox played the Blue Jays. This success came especially against Sanchez and Hutchison. If the Red Sox have any chance at winning, Kung Fu Panda will have to pull similar martial arts at the plate, as there should be base runners to drive home against this pitching staff.

• Designated hitter David Ortiz has been the hottest hitter for the Red Sox, in terms of batting average, in the last seven days. Now, before you get too excited, he hit .261, with 2 doubles and an RBI. MLB.com‘s Alec Shirkey points out that Ortiz “has tallied 54 home runs and 164 RBIs against the Blue Jays over his career, with both marks being his highest against any one team.” He feasts on Blue Jays pitchers, to the dismay of the Toronto faithful. Expect the banquet to still be on the table when Ortiz arrives in the Rogers Centre.