Can Tillman be the stopper in Boston?

The battle for first place in the American League East shifts to Boston.

The Orioles took two of three games from the Red Sox on April 11-13 at Fenway Park. The teams split a four-game series on May 30-June 2 at Camden Yards, with the Orioles winning the last two.

They're at it again for the next three nights.

The Orioles lost three straight in Toronto. The pitching let them down and now is confronted with a bigger challenge.

The Red Sox began last night leading the majors with a .291 average, .357 on-base percentage and a .483 slugging percentage. Their .839 OPS placed them ahead of the Orioles, who ranked second in the American League at .785.

The Orioles lead the majors in home runs with 99. The Red Sox were 10th with 77.

Chris Tillman gave up six home runs over a span of two starts before regaining his touch and shutting out the Royals over 7 1/3 innings, with no walks and nine strikeouts, the night after the teams brawled. He provided a much-needed sense of order and calm. Now he's got to be the stopper for a team that's lost three in a row.

Tillman hasn't faced the Red Sox this season, but he's 9-3 with a 2.84 ERA in 18 career starts and 4-1 with a 2.56 ERA in eight starts at Fenway Park.

The current Red Sox are batting .205 (26-for-127) against Tillman. Jackie Bradley, Jr. is 3-for-10 with a double. Xander Bogaerts is 2-for-17 with a home run. David Ortiz is 6-for-33 with a double and home run.

The Orioles are facing another left-hander, veteran David Price, which likely puts Nolan Reimold in left field, Joey Rickard in right and Paul Janish at third base. Mark Trumbo figures to serve as the designated hitter.

Price, in his first season in Boston after signing a seven-year, $217 million deal, is 7-3 with a 4.63 ERA in 13 starts. He's registered a 5.61 ERA in seven starts at Fenway Park and a 3.57 ERA in six starts on the road.

Price is 8-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 20 career starts against the Orioles. He allowed five runs in five innings in his only appearance against them on April 11. He struck out eight batters.

Trumbo is 8-for-22 (.364) with two doubles and two home runs against Price. Matt Wieters is 15-for-47 (.319) with six doubles, a home run and 20 strikeouts. Chris Davis is 7-for-23 (.304) with 11 strikeouts.

Reimold is 4-for-30 (.133) with a home run and 11 strikeouts against Price. I'd use pencil when writing his name in tonight's lineup, just in case.

Davis has homered in five consecutive games and was named the American League's Player of the Week.

I'm boarding a flight to Boston later today. Perhaps we'll find out more about the Orioles' rotation plans beyond Yovani Gallardo's return this weekend.