Opposite dugout: Powerful bats, strong arms have kept Red Sox in contention

Manager: John Farrell (6th season)

Record: 80-62

Last 10 games: 7-3

Who to watch: 2B Dustin Pedroia (.329 with 182 hits), DH David Ortiz (.315 with 32 HR, 110 RBIs), RF Mookie Betts (.314 with 30 HR, 102 RBIs), SS Xander Bogaerts (.299 with 173 hits, 29 doubles), LHP David Price (15-8, 3.87 ERA), RHP Rick Porcello (20-3, 3.1 ERA), RHP Craig Kimbrel (2.78 ERA with 25 saves).

Season series vs. Orioles: 6-6

Pitching probables:

Sept. 12: LHP Wade Miley vs. LHP David Price, 7:10 p.m., MASN2
Sept. 13: RHP Dylan Bundy vs. LHP Drew Pomeranz, 7:10 p.m., MASN2
Sept. 14: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Rick Porcello, 7:10 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Red Sox:

If the Red Sox, at 80-62 and with a two-game lead over the Orioles and Blue Jays, have designs on an American League East title, they've got a schedule that will test their mettle. The remainder of their regular season schedule matches them solely against teams from the AL East, and only three games - a weekend series against the Rays from Sept. 23-25 - is against a team with a record of less than .500. Boston will rise and fall on how well it fares within the division over the season's final three weeks, and the three-game series at Fenway Bark against the Orioles that starts Monday will loom large for both teams. If that weren't enough, they battle in a four-game series at Camden Yards from Sept. 19-22. Boston has won only four of 10 games against the Orioles this year, which is odd considering how they've mashed against Baltimore pitching.

Right fielder Mookie Betts is a legitimate MVP candidate, and the .440/.491/.980 slash line he's put up against the Orioles, which includes eight homers and 17 RBIs, is the stuff most hitters dream of. DH David Ortiz is enjoying one of the most productive seasons of his stellar career in his final campaign, and he has 52 career homers against Baltimore pitching, tied for his most against a single team. This season, Big Papi has hit the Orioles at a .328/.423/.783 clip with five homers and 12 RBIs. The big thumpers in the Red Sox lineup benefit from guys like sparkplug second baseman Dustin Pedroia getting on base, and he's posted a lifetime .389 on-base percentage against the Birds, though only a .375 mark this year to go along with a .340 average. And don't overlook shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.299 with 83 RBIs) or first baseman Hanley Ramirez (23 homers, 94 RBIs). Orioles pitchers will be tested by the top five spots in the Red Sox lineup, and they may have to pick their poison. Boston leads the majors in hitting with .286 team average and provides its pitching staff with the best run support (5.56) in the bigs.

Lefty David Price, who starts Monday's series opener, has a 2.82 ERA over his past 13 starts after struggling for the season's first three months. He's reeled off wins in his last six outings, failing to go at least six innings only one time in that span. In 22 career starts versus the Orioles, Price is 9-5 with a 2.87 ERA, but he's only 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against them this season. Another southpaw, Drew Pomeranz, gets the call Tuesday, but hasn't really panned out since he was acquired from the Padres on July 14. Since joining the Red Sox, Pomeranz is only 2-4 with a 3.97 ERA. Home runs have been a problem, since he's allowed 10 in 56 2/3 innings. He's exceeded six innings only twice in nine Boston starts. In three lifetime relief appearances against the Orioles, Pomeranz is 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA, though that covers only 4 2/3 innings. Righty Rick Porcello is the first 20-game winner in the majors this season, notching that milestone on Sept. 9 as the Red Sox steamrolled the Blue Jays. Porcello, the first 20-game winner for the Red Sox since Josh Beckett in 2007, has worked seven or more innings in nine consecutive starts, posting an 8-1 record in that span. He brings a string of six straight wins into Wednesday's series finale, but is 3-7 with a 5.61 ERA in 13 lifetime starts against the Orioles.

The Red Sox went through some rough times in the bullpen earlier this summer when closer Craig Kimbrel (torn left meniscus) and veteran Koji Uehara (right pectoral strain) went on the disabled list in the span of 12 days. Both are back, with Kimbrel again entrenched in the ninth inning. He's converted 25 saves, posting a 2.78 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. When injuries hit, Boston acquired veteran sidearmer Brad Ziegler from the Diamondbacks, and his 2.37 ERA has been a stabilizing force.