Their playoff hopes are still alive, albeit narrowly, as they are four games behind the Tigers and Royals in the battle for the final wild-card spot, with the Mariners and Twins also ahead of the Sox with six games remaining.

They will look to stay in the race when they head to Toronto tonight for their final road series. The Blue Jays return home after losing five of six games, including a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay.

Tanner Houck will be on the mound for the series opener.

Lineups

RED SOX (78-78): Duran LF, Story SS, Casas 1B, O’Neill DH, Abreu RF, Wong C, Sicherd 3B, Grissom 2B, Rafaela CF

Set up: RHP Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.21 ERA)

BLUE JAYS (73-83): Springer RF, Lukes LF, Guerrero Jr. 1B, Horwitz DH, Kirk C, Barger 3B, Clement SS, Clase CF, Jimenez 2B

Set up: RHP Chris Bassitt (10-13, 4.16 ERA)

Time: 19:07

Television, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Red Sox vs. Bassitt: Wilyer Abreu 2-8, Triston Casas 1-4, Jarren Duran 2-12, Romy González 0-3, Tyler O’Neill 1-12, Ceddanne Rafaela 1-6, Trevor Story 1-3, Enmanuel Valdez 0-4, Connor Wong 1-8, Masataka Yoshida 6-16

Blue Jays vs. Houck: Addison Barger 1-5, Ernie Clement 1-2, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 5-15, Spencer Horwitz 1-4, Alejandro Kirk 0-9, Davis Schneider 1-6, George Springer 0-10

Statistics of the day: The Red Sox starting pitchers have posted a 2.52 ERA in their last 26 games (since August 26).

Notes: Jarren Duran’s 46 doubles lead the American League. … Houck is 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) against the Blue Jays. … Bassitt is making his 31st start this season, including three against the Red Sox, in which he is 0-1 with a 2.29 ERA. … As a team, the Sox have a 2.85 ERA in their last 13 games. … Romy Gonzalez has hit two home runs in his last six games beginning Sept. 17, following a 29-game home run-less stretch from Aug. 9 to Sept. 15.

Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.