Maybe we should hand the Boston Red Sox the American League East title before the start of their three-game set with the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays this week. After all, history says the Rays have little chance of beating the hard-charging Red Sox at Fenway Park, where Rays right-hander Edwin Jackson will face Boston southpaw Jon Lester Monday night.

Yes, the numbers are stacked against the struggling Rays.

• In the franchise’s 11 seasons, Tampa Bay is 23-67 (.256) at Fenway and has never won a series there. The AL East leaders are 0-6 in Boston this season.

• The Rays, who were swept by Toronto over the weekend, have lost seven of their last 13 games. In the same span, the Red Sox are 10-3. They have won their last six series, including three-game sets with the Yankees and White Sox.

• If it counts for anything, Boston has a huge advantage in experience under pressure, while Tampa Bay is playing September games that matter for the first time in franchise history. After dropping five of six this month, the Rays are 106-177 (.375) in September and October in their 11 seasons

• Monday night’s starter, Jackson, is 0-3 with an 8.18 ERA in five lifetime appearances at Fenway. Wednesday’s pitcher, Andy Sonnanstine, has a 7.20 ERA in two starts there.

• On top of that, Lester is 8-0 with a 2.64 ERA in 13 home starts since losing his first 2008 outing at Fenway on April 9. Tuesday’s starter, Daisuke Matsuzaka, is 9-2 (3.05 ERA) at home. Only Josh Beckett, who starts Wednesday, has struggled before Boston fans this season.

• Tampa Bay plays the Red Sox without one of its most productive hitters, Evan Longoria, and its closer, Troy Percival. The Rays, who lack Boston’s depth, have used Willy Aybar at third and call on Dan Wheeler to close games.

Luckily for the Rays, the games are played on the field. History and numbers only get in the way if players let them get into their heads. That kind of pressure is building on the Rays, who have led the division since taking over first place in the first game of the second half. The lead was 5.5 games heading to September, but it’s slipped to 1.5 games going into the big showdown with the defending World Series champs.

“I’ve been talking about this all year,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We do need to win a game or two in Boston. . . We just need (to eliminate) the mental hurdle that you have to overcome by winning in that form of enemy territory, which is very difficult.”

Mental hurdle or not, winning in Boston doesn’t come easy. In 2007 and 2008 combined, the Red Sox are 99-49 (.669) at home.

Unless the Rays do a complete fold, both teams will make the playoffs and the series only plays a role in determining the AL East champs. Getting swept in Boston, however, could be the first step of a total collapse, so a strong showing at Fenway Park could go a long way for the Rays.

If the Rays are able to claim the series with the Red Sox, the series could mean even more. The showdown at Fenway will have a playoff atmosphere, and winning the series could convince the young Rays that they can win in October, too.