Red Sox v Rays: Game 1 - Advantage Red Sox

The Red Sox appear to be holding all the cards as they head into Game 1 of a very important 3-game series with the first place Rays.

- The Red Sox are 48-19 at Fenway Park this year.

- Jon Lester is 8-0 with a 2.64 ERA in his last 13 starts at Fenway.

- The Red Sox have won 14 of their last 18 games and are 5-1 in September.

- The Rays are 1-5 in September, and 41-72 (.363) in that month dating back to 2004.

- The Rays have not won a game at Fenway this year - posting an 0-6 record while getting outscored 45-16 thanks to a staff ERA of 7.88.

- Jays starter Edwin Jackson is 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA in three starts versus Boston this year, most recently getting shelled for 10 runs and 15 hits in his last two visits.

- Jackson is 0-3 with an 8.18 ERA in five lifetime appearances at Fenway.

- Jackson also had his worst game of the season last time out, lasting just 3 1/3 innings, while giving up 6 runs on 10 hits to the Yankees.

- Meanwhile, Jon Lester has allowed just 2 runs total in his past two outings, while fanning 13 batters.

- Lester is also 3-0 in 6 career starts against the Rays.

- David Ortiz is 5 for 11 (.455) with a homer, 5 RBI and 6 walks against Jackson.

- Jason Bay is batting .391 with a home run and 6 RBI against the Rays.

- Dustin Pedroia is batting .347 at Fenway and went 17 for 25 (.680) on the last home stand while grabbing 3 or more hits in 4 of those 6 games.

- Tampa Bay is batting .246 against southpaws this season, ranking them 27th.

- The Rays are batting just .277 against Lester .224 against Boston pitching, but they have hit 5 ding dongs off of Lester this year.

Other Notes: Rhode Island native Rocco Baldelli has made a miraculous return from a number of injuries. He's batting .326 with 3 homers, 4 doubles and 9 RBI in 46 at-bats this year... Carlos Pena hit 16 homers through July and August and has 2 against Lester in 12 at-bats... Evan Longoria was activated from the DL over the weekend, but will likely remain out of the starting lineup during this series... David Ortiz admitted that his wrist is "not okay" but says it hurts less when his team is winning... Coco Crisp is batting .565 over the past 7 days and is 6 for 17 (.353 against Jackson in his career...

Bottom Line: The deck has been stacked in favor of the Red Sox here... they need to take advantage and go for the sweep.