After dropping the series opener to their division-rival Rays on Monday night, the Red Sox are 21-20 and clinging to a one-game advantage over the .500 line once again.

The loss also puts Boston just half a game ahead of Tampa Bay in the American League East standings.

Nick Pivetta will make his second start since coming off the 15-day injured list (right-elbow flexor strain) last Wednesday. Tuesday will be his 200th career game, but his first start at Fenway this season. He’ll square off against Northeastern University alum Aaron Civale.

The real question, though, is whether the Red Sox can break their nasty habit of stranding almost every runner they put on base. They enter the day with 294 men left, which ranks third in the AL and is significantly above average (275). They’ve homered just four times in their last 13 games, after collecting 19 round-trippers in the prior 13.

“At one point there, it was a very athletic group, and we were just pushing the envelope. Then we started hitting homers out of nowhere, and now we’re not hitting homers,” Alex Cora said. “So, we have to make sure to, whenever we get our shots, just to cash in, that’s the most important thing.”

“With the way we’re pitching, we don’t have to score six or seven runs, but we have to score runs, and we haven’t done that consistently,” Cora added.

The latest attempt to give the lineup a jolt of energy has Reese McGuire catching while Connor Wong serves as the designated hitter for the first time since spring training.

“We talked about it last night,” Cora said. “I asked Pete (Fatse), I said ‘How do you feel about it?’ and he’s like, ‘Yeah, he’s swinging the bat well, he put good at-bats yesterday, so why not?”

“We’re trying to score runs,” the manager continued, “and I think where he’s at right now, he’s one of our best offensive players. Reese is doing a good job, and he needs to play too, so today, we found this one, and hopefully, it works out.”

Wong entered Tuesday hitting .344 with a .922 OPS over 27 games. He’s hitting. 446 with a 1.186 OPS in 18 night contests, the best average and second-highest OPS among Major Leaguers who’ve played at least 10 night games. Nine of Wong’s last 19 contests were multi-hit performances, and he’s 5-for-10 with two outs and runners in scoring position.

Are the Red Sox a pitching-and-defense team now?

“Right now it is,” the manager said with a chuckle.

Red Sox lineup (May 14)

Jarren Duran CF

Wilyer Abreu RF

Connor Wong DH

Rafael Devers 3B

Tyler O’Neill LF

Dom Smith 1B

Vaughn Grissom 2B

Reese McGuire C

Ceddanne Rafaela SS

Rays lineup (May 14)

Yandy Díaz 1B

Randy Arozarena LF

Josh Lowe RF

Isaac Paredes DH

Amed Rosario 3B

Jonny DeLuca CF

Richie Palacios 2B

Jose Caballero SS

Alex Jackson C

Red Sox vs. Rays probable starting pitchers

RHP Nick Pivetta vs. RHP Aaron Civale

How to watch Red Sox vs. Rays

When: 7:10 p.m. ET

Where: Fenway Park, Boston

TV: NESN, Bally Sports Sun (Blackout restrictions may apply)

Red Sox radio: WEEI 93.7 FM, WCCM 1490 AM (Spanish)

Rays radio: WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM, WQBN/1300AM

May 14 in baseball history

1965: At Fenway Park, Carl Yastrzemski hits for the cycle, with two home runs and five RBI, but the Red Sox lose to the Tigers.

1986: With a homer off burgeoning Red Sox ace Roger Clemens, Reggie Jackson passes Mickey Mantle (536) on MLB’s all-time home run list. That fall, Clemens will win his first of seven Cy Young Awards and only MVP award.

2016: David Ortiz hits his 513th career home run in the third inning of a game against the Houston Astros. His 11th-inning walk-off double, however is the more notable accomplishment. With his 600th career two-bagger, “Big Papi” joins Henry Aaron and Barry Bonds as the only players in MLB history with 600 doubles and 500 home runs.

2019: Chris Sale strikes out a career-high 17 batters and doesn’t issue a walk, but receives a no-decision when the Red Sox lose to the Colorado Rockies 5-4 in 11 innings.

(Sources: Baseball-Reference, SABR, Nationalpastime.com)