It has to happen eventually. Right? The Boston Red Sox have been knocking at the door for weeks now and finally look to break the .500 mark when they start a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

Despite winning 10 of its last 13, Boston has failed in seven chances to get over .500. Two of those opportunities came this week in a series with the Baltimore Orioles, a series that capped a stretch of 20-straight games without a break.

“Amazing effort by a group of fabulous professionals who played through a lot of adversity – time zones, weather, travel,” manager Bobby Valentine told the Associated Press. “They did one heck of a job winning the last two series. Going home at .500 is a feather in their cap.”

At 22-22, it is still in last place in a brutal AL East, trailing the Orioles by 3 1/2 games. But the Red Sox have beaten Tampa Bay up this year, taking the last series 3-1 at Fenway Park in April.

Designated Hitter David Ortiz went 9 for 16 in that series with eight RBI, and continues to be the team’s hottest hitter.

As for the Rays, B.J. Upton has been white hot to carry the team’s offense through the past week. He’s hitting .448 over his last seven games, raising his average 53 points in the process. He had the game winner last night in a 5-4 extra-inning win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

“I think I’m understanding the strike zone and trying to stay aggressive, and right now I guess I’m not missing any pitches,” Upton told the AP.

But he might cool off tonight against Boston starter Jon Lester, who has held him to just a .204 average in 49 at-bats. Lester has won back-to-back starts after getting just one in his first seven. He is 10-6 in 20 career starts against the Rays with a 3.91 ERA.

Alex Cobb gets the ball for Tampa Bay in his second start since replacing Jeff Neimann in the rotation. He beat the Atlanta Braves, surrendering two runs and striking out six on Saturday.

Tampa Bay is favored by 1 1/2 runs, according to Bovada’s Red Sox vs. Rays Betting Lines.