Red Sox can help Yanks

The Red Sox can do the Yankees a favor over the next three days. Tampa Bay is at Fenway and, with the Yankees at home for three games with the last place Orioles, some breathing room in the standings can be achieved.

Boston has lost three straight, Tampa Bay two in a row heading into tonight's game. Jon Lester (15-8, 3.27) starts for Boston against Jeff Niemann (10-5, 3.97).