Tampa Bay Rays up next: Boston Red Sox

.UP NEXT

Red Sox

Tonight-Thursday

What's new: The Red Sox have been making moves to improve, recently adding LHP Billy Wagner to the bullpen, RHP Paul Byrd to the rotation and SS Alex Gonzalez to the lineup. They dropped John Smoltz and Brad Penny and lost Tim Wakefield to back problems. They've won 10 of their past 13. The offense has come to life, including a team-record 50 homers in August.

Key stat: Including the ALCS, the Rays have won 19 of their past 28 games against the Red Sox.

Connections: Red Sox OF Rocco Baldelli and SS Nick Green are ex-Rays, as is 1B coach Tim Bogar. 1B Casey Kotchman and hitting coach Dave Magadan are bay area products. Rays OF Gabe Kapler and 1B Carlos Peña are former Red Sox.

Series history: Rays lead 8-4 this season, 5-1 at the Trop. Sox lead 123-76 all time, 52-48 at the Trop.