(Sports Network) -- Still on the verge on reaching the postseason for the fifth time in six years, the Boston Red Sox wrap up a six-game road trip this afternoon with their final meeting of the season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Boston entered Saturday's play with a magic number of two to secure a playoff spot, and that amount remains the same following yesterday's 6-3 setback to the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. The Red Sox also didn't receive any help from the rival New York Yankees, who defeated Baltimore on Saturday to remain 6 1/2 games behind the defending world champions in the American League wild card standings.

The Red Sox can clinch a postseason berth with a win in today's rubber match of this three-game series combined with a New York loss to the Orioles.

Toronto put up five early runs on Sox starter Jon Lester yesterday en route to its third win in the last four games. Marco Scutaro and Alex Rios each finished with two hits and a pair of RBI for the Jays, while Scott Rolen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored.

That early uprising helped Roy Halladay (19-11) obtain his 19th victory of the season. The Toronto ace allowed three runs on six hits over the first six innings, with the Blue Jays bullpen following with three shutout frames.

Lester (15-6) settled down after his rough beginning to throw seven innings, but was still charged with the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits.

Jason Bay hit a two-run home run for Boston, which fell to 2-3 so far on its trek and 38-42 on the road for the year.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will once again attempt to play the role of stopper when he toes the rubber for the Red Sox this afternoon. The Japanese sensation is riding a six-decision winning streak and has amassed a sensational 17-2 record with a 2.93 earned run average in his second major league season.

Matsuzaka's latest sharp effort came in a big Boston victory at Tampa Bay last Monday. The standout right-hander held the Rays to one run and three hits over five innings to run his unbeaten stretch to nine straight starts. He hasn't lost since a home setback to the AL West champion Angels on July 28.

The 28-year-old has been especially dominant on the road, where he's compiled an 8-0 mark with a 2.61 ERA in 12 outings at enemy parks.

Matsuzaka has recorded a pair of no-decisions against Toronto this season, but he's 3-1 with a 4.58 ERA over six lifetime starts versus the Blue Jays.

With Shaun Marcum out for the remainder of this season -- and possibly all of 2009 as well -- with an elbow injury that will require surgery, Toronto will give native Canadian Scott Richmond a shot in today's finale.

The 29-year-old rookie made three starts for the Blue Jays earlier this summer and wasn't particularly impressive, going 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA and failing to last more than 5 2/3 innings. Richmond also pitched in 24 games between Double and Triple-A this season and had a combined 6-11 record with a 4.45 ERA.

Toronto took a 9-8 edge on the Red Sox in this year's season series with Saturday's triumph. Boston has won three of its last five against the Jays at the Rogers Centre after being swept in a three-game series there in early April.