Series preview: Red Sox at Blue Jays

ROGERS CENTRE FRIDAY, 7 p.m. LH Chris Sale (3-1, 2.02) RH Aaron Sanchez (2-3, 4.14) SATURDAY, 4 p.m. LH David Price (2-4, 5.11) RH Marco Estrada (2-2, 5.21) SUNDAY, 1 p.m. LH Drew Pomeranz (1-1, 5.23) RH Marcus Stroman (0-5, 7.71) TV: Sportsnet One (Friday), Sportsnet (Saturday/Sunday) RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN

KEY PLAYERS

Betts/Hernandez Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts is among the hottest hitters in baseball with 13 homers, 27 RBIs and a .347 batting average heading into Thursday night’s series finale with the Yankees. He hit just .143 in three games against the Jays in April, though. Counterpart Teoscar Hernandez, despite starting this season in the minors, has racked up monster numbers since Sept. 1 last season — tops on the Jays with 35 RBIs, 31 extra-base hits and a .587 slugging percentage. Only Josh Donaldson has hit more homers than Hernandez’s 14 since then.

NEED TO KNOW

Boston centre fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was in the midst of one of the worst slumps of his career, 5-for-50 heading into Thursday … Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and reliever Tyler Thornburg are still working their way back from long-term injuries ... Former Jay David Price is still expected to start Saturday despite a recent diagnosis of mild carpal tunnel syndrome … Blue Jays outfielder Steve Pearce (left oblique strain) is eligible to return from the disabled list this week … The Blue Jays are 1-2 against the Red Sox and 7-11 against all AL East opponents this year.

ON DECK

In New York for two against the Mets, starting Tuesday.