After winning 10 of their last 13 games, the Toronto Blue Jays sit just 3.5 games behind the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox as the two teams prepare for an important three-game series this weekend at Fenway Park. 

Since being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre in mid-May, Toronto has won four consecutive series, including two against the New York Yankees and one against the Red Sox. Boston, on the other hand, is coming off a four-game split with the Baltimore Orioles, but has been the best team in the American League all season.

Take a look at the projected pitching matchups for this weekend.

 

Projected Pitchers

Game Toronto Pitcher Boston Pitcher
Friday R.A. Dickey (2-6, 4.64 ERA) David Price (7-1, 5.11 ERA)
Saturday Marcus Stroman (5-1, 4.46 ERA) Steven Wright (5-4, 2.45 ERA)
Sunday Marco Estrada (3-2, 2.43 ERA) Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 3.00 ERA)

Just like the 2015 Blue Jays, the bread and butter for the Red Sox this season has been their hitting. Boston leads the league in runs with 324 and are on pace for 960. The Jays led the MLB with 891 runs in 2015.

The BoSox also lead the Majors in hits (574), doubles (137), RBIs (312), batting average (.296), on-base percentage (.360), slugging percentage (.494) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.854). The only major offensive category they don't own is home runs as they're tied for sixth with 71 dingers, just nine behind the Seattle Mariners.  

In one hot stretch from May 9-12, the Red Sox scored 11-plus runs in four straight games. 

A major key to Boston's success at the plate this season has been their depth. Like Toronto last season, there are no black holes in the Red Sox lineup. Four everyday players (Xander Bogaerts, David Ortiz, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Dustin Pedroia) are hitting .318 or better while 23-year-old Mookie Betts is looking like a superstar in the making in just his second full-year in the pros. 

 

Flexing Their Muscle

Player Average Home Runs RBIs
Mookie Betts .287 14 43
Xander Bogaerts .348 6 33
David Ortiz .335 16 51
Jackie Bradley Jr. .331 9 37
Dustin Pedroia .318 7 26
Hanley Ramirez .291 4 31
Travis Shaw .289 7 35

If hitting has been their strength in 2016, then defence has been their Achilles Heel. Boston has allowed the ninth most runs in 2016 (253) and are ranked 22nd in the MLB with a 4.44 ERA. Their bullpen ERA has been a little better 3.77, good enough for 12th right behind the Blue Birds. Two-time All-Star Clay Buchholz along with his 6.34 ERA was demoted from the starting rotation to the bullpen while Joe Kelly was sent to the minors recently to work on his game. Their best starters have been knuckleballer Steven Wright (5-4, 2.45 ERA) and Rick Porcello (7-2, 4.00 ERA). Even their prized off-season signing in David Price has an ERA over five despite owning a 7-1 record. 

Take Boston's last two games against the Orioles for example. They scored nine runs on Wednesday night and another seven on Thursday. A couple very solid outcomes, but ended up in a pair of losses as their pitching couldn't get the job done. If the Red Sox are going to win the AL East, their pitching will need to improve.   

On the other side of things, the Blue Jays made a name for themselves in 2015 with their incredible power numbers. They led the league in long balls thanks to giant seasons from Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and MVP Josh Donaldson. Despite the bats warming up as of late, the Jays' hurlers have been the undisputed reason as to why they find themselves within striking distance of first place in the AL East.   

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Marco Estrada (3-2, 2.43 ERA) has proven he's more than a one-hit wonder after a breakout campaign in 2015, JA Happ (6-2, 3.06 ERA) has continued his hot run from the second half of last season and Aaron Sanchez (5-1, 2.99 ERA) is throwing smoke in his first full year as a starter. Furthermore, despite a few recent shaky starts, ace Marcus Stroman (5-1, 4.46 ERA) is still one of the best young pitchers in the game. The Jays have a team ERA of 3.58, good enough for second in the American League. 

The Jays might be a little closer to the Red Sox in the standings if not for their bullpen. Toronto's pen has accumulated 14 losses this season which is tied for the most in the MLB with the Cincinnati Reds. If Brett Cecil can find his way once he returns from the DL and Drew Storen can start pitching like he did in the National League, the Jays could really have something when it comes to their staff.

It may be early June, but this weekend set could turn out to be a determining factor for the fate of these two good, but imperfect teams.