(My Sportsbook) - Jon Lester goes for win No. 13 this afternoon when the Boston Red Sox play the middle test of their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Lester posted his second straight victorious start and won for the ninth time in 10 decisions Monday in Baltimore, as he allowed a run and four hits in seven innings to up his season mark to 12-4 and lower his earned run average to 3.17.

The 24-year-old lefty has been terrific in two starts against the Jays, surrendering just a run and four hits in 14 2/3 innings. However, he failed to record a decision in either of those two outings.

Boston maintained its lead in the American League Wild Card standings on Friday, as Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI to lead the Red Sox to an 8-4 win. Jacoby Ellsbury knocked in a pair of runs for Boston, which has won three of its last four and holds a half-game edge on the Chicago White Sox in the wild-card chase.

The Red Sox, who have won 10 of their last 14 away from home, are still 4 1/2 games back of the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, who defeated the White Sox on Friday.

Paul Byrd (8-11) won for the first time in a Boston uniform despite allowing six hits and four runs over six innings, along with two home runs.

Alex Rios and Lyle Overbay each hit two-run homers for the Blue Jays, who have lost two of three. Starter Shaun Marcum (8-6) suffered the loss for Toronto after yielding six hits and five runs in just 3 2/3 innings.

Toronto will pin its hopes today on righty Jesse Litsch, who is 8-7 with a 4.20 ERA. Litsch pitched good enough to win his last start back on August 14 against Detroit, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 5-1 loss despite throwing seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball.

Litsch defeated the Red Sox the last time he faced them and is 3-1 lifetime against them with a 4.57 ERA in four starts.

Toronto has been a thorn in the side of the defending world champions all season, winning six of the nine overall matchups and sweeping a three-game set from Boston at the Rogers Centre in April. Dating back to last season, the Blue Jays are 10-3 in their last 13 meetings with the Red Sox.