TORONTO — If you enjoy watching the Red Sox play the Yankees, get your fill this weekend. It may be the last time until 2018.

By the time a critical four-game series ends on Monday, the old rivals will have played 10 times in a span of 24 days. But that will end their season series with four weeks left to play.

Discounting the strike-shortened 1994 season, the Sox have not finished with the Yankees this early in the season since 1985. They were done that season on Aug. 19, which wasn’t unusual then as division opponents faced each other only 13 times a year.

If the Sox see the Yankees again this season, it would not be unless the playoffs break that way. That hasn’t happened since 2004.

“The schedule’s going to have quirks. It is what it is,’’ manager John Farrell said Wednesday before the Sox played the Blue Jays. “We’re going to show up and play every darn one of them.’’

Eduardo Rodriguez, who flew ahead of the team on Wednesday, will face CC Sabathia in the first game of the series.

Rodriguez is 0-2 with a 5.08 earned run average in eight starts since coming off the disabled list on July 17. But his best start in that stretch was against the Yankees with six shutout innings on Aug. 11.

Rodriguez is 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA in eight career starts against the Yankees. At Yankee Stadium, he is 2-1 with a 1.38 ERA in four games.

Rodriguez has pitched inconsistently all season. But he always seems ready for the Yankees.

“He has not feared the big stage and kind of relishes it, actually,’’ Farrell said.

Sabathia is 3-0 in three starts against the Sox this season, allowing two runs on 11 hits over 20 innings. The 37-year-old lefthander is having a career renaissance.

“You’ve got to tip your hat to CC. I’ll tell you what, he has evolved over time,’’ Farrell said. “He has adjusted based on what Father Time has done. He is a heck of an athlete; he repeats his delivery well; he changes speeds; manages a lineup extremely well; he never gives in and he’s always had a delivery that is difficult for hitters to time up.’’

Doug Fister, Drew Pomeranz, and Chris Sale will start the final three games of the series for the Sox.

Sale has a 2.12 ERA in four starts vs. the Yankees this season. This will be his third game against them since Aug. 13.

“I think that’s the fun part about this game,’’ Sale said. “I’ve talked to [hitting coach Chili Davis] about this a lot. It’s kind of like a little cat and mouse game. It’s a game of adjustments, too. I’m adjusting to them; they’re adjusting to me.

“I’ve seen them a lot this year, it should be interesting.’’

The Sox are 7-8 against the Yankees this season but have won four of the last six.

“You look forward to the intensity of the games,’’ Farrell said. “They’ve been highly competitive.’’

Getting healthy

You can expect to see righthanded reliever Matt Barnes, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., and second baseman Dustin Pedroia activated off the disabled list this weekend.

Barnes threw an inning for Double A Portland on Tuesday and will be activated on Friday, the first day he is eligible. He was out with what the team said was a lower-back strain.

Bradley is set to come back Saturday, the first day he is eligible. He has been out with a sprained left thumb. Bradley rifled a ball into the second deck during practice and said he felt fine.

Pedroia went through a base-running drill on Wednesday afternoon that included going first to third at game speed. His left knee responded well.

Farrell, who was watching closely, was encouraged. But the medical staff wants Pedroia to take an easier day on Thursday. He has not played since Aug. 8.

“We’ll check and see in New York when we get there,’’ Farrell said. “He’s been progressively picking it up for 4-5 consecutive days.’’

The tentative plan is for Pedroia to be activated on Friday. By waiting until the rosters expand, the Sox can bring Pedroia back without making a corresponding move.

Price on mound

For the first time since July 22, David Price pitched off a mound. The lefthander threw 20 fastballs in the bullpen before the game. No next step has been determined, or at least made public.

“The goal for today was accomplished, so we’ll see where we continue to build from here,’’ Farrell said.

Price declined comment.

Price, who is out with a triceps strain, threw off the mound every other day when he came back from an elbow injury in the spring, then progressed to facing hitters and eventually to games.

A similar schedule now would theoretically get him back before the end of the season. But even a brief delay would change that.

Outfield stars

Pawtucket outfielders Bryce Brentz and Rusney Castillo were named to the International League All-Star team.

Through Tuesday, Brentz had an .878 OPS with 30 home runs and 82 RBIs. The righthanded hitter would seem like an attractive option against lefthanded pitchers in September, but the Sox would have to get him on the 40-man roster.

Castillo hit .314 with 37 extra-base hits and 14 stolen bases. He has not played since Aug. 17 because of an injured left knee and will miss the rest of the season.

Castillo was not in consideration for a September call-up regardless, as his salary would put the team over the soft cap.

Call-ups coming

When rosters expand on Friday, the Sox plan to add three players initially, then 4-5 more over time. One candidate to return immediately is righthanded reliever Ben Taylor. He was activated off the disabled list on Wednesday and optioned to Triple A Pawtucket. Taylor, who was out with a rib-cage strain, has appeared in 14 major league games this season . . . Infielder Josh Rutledge had surgery on his left hip in Nashville and should be ready for next season. Rutledge appeared in only 37 games this season after being claimed in the Rule 5 Draft. The Sox retain his rights but Deven Marrero or Tzu-Wei Lin could be better options in that role . . . Remember lefthanded reliever Robbie Ross Jr.? He has shut down for the season with a herniated disk. Ross, who has been on the DL since May 19, is a candidate to be released when the Sox need a roster spot this winter . . . MLB will dedicate Friday as “Childhood Cancer Awareness Day’’ at all parks. The Sox, Yankees, and other teams will wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands in partnership with Stand Up To Cancer.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.