Matsuzaka, whose 2009 campaign was marred by injuries, went on the disabled list at the end of spring training with a neck strain. He made three rehab starts for Triple-A Pawtucket, allowing three earned runs in 16 2/3 innings.

The activation of Matsuzaka means that Tim Wakefield will officially move to the bullpen, this at the expense of Alan Embree, who was designated for assignment after being called up earlier in the week.

The Orioles have won two in a row against the Sox, a rarity in the series so dominated by Boston.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (11-12) vs. Orioles (5-18)
Saturday, May 1, 7 p.m. (NESN)
Camden Yards, Baltimore

HEAD TO HEAD

Friday’s win was the 50th for Baltimore against Boston at Camden Yards. The Sox have won 88 at the park.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Brad Bergesen (0-2, 12.19 ERA)

Matsuzaka is 3-1 in his career against the Orioles but has been hit hard at Camden Yards, giving up 14 runs in just 20 innings over four starts.

Bergesen was sent to Triple-A Norfolk after three miserable starts but recalled for this outing. Manager Dave Trembley said Bergesen was overthrowing earlier in the year and is much more relaxed now after a short stint in the minors.

The 24-year-old was 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA last year and allowed only four runs in 14 innings against the Red Sox.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Right fielder J.D. Drew has 16 multi-homer games. He also has 10 RBIs in his last eight games.
• John Lackey has thrown 11 straight quality starts against Baltimore.
• Catcher Victor Martinez is 3-for-21 (.143) with no RBIs in a six-game stretch.

Orioles

• In the last two games between the teams, third baseman Miguel Tejada has slugged two game-tying home runs in the late innings and has one game-winning hit, his single to win Friday’s series opener.
• Center fielder Adam Jones has six multi-hit games and is 7-for-70 (.100) in all other games.
• Baltimore used a season-high seven pitchers Friday. The seven combined to issue a season-high 10 walks.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is still just hitting off a tee and has yet to take live batting practice. He said Friday that he was able to swing, run and throw and that it was his best day yet as he recovers from hairline fractures in four ribs. Ellsbury has been eligible to return from the DL since early in the week.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron has slightly increased the intensity of his workouts as he recovers from a sports hernia. He is eligible to return from the disabled list in early May.

Orioles

• Right hander Koji Uehara may come off the 15-day disabled list at some point during the series. He has been out with a hamstring strain.
• Second baseman Brian Roberts, already out with a back injury, has been battling flu-like symptoms and stomach pain. He is not close to returning.
• Closer Mike Gonzalez hopes to return in May from a strained left shoulder.

OUTLOOK

Although Friday night’s opener did not turn out the way the Sox had hoped it would, it did give them a third straight quality pitching performance. They are now waiting to see the same from two others, Matsuzaka and Josh Beckett, who starts Sunday’s finale.

A quality debut by Matsuzaka would be the latest piece of the puzzle and could put the club back at .500.

To give the right hander the support he needs, Boston has to do a better job getting runners in. The club drew 10 walks Friday night but was just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.

Since scoring 13 runs in just six innings to start the series in Toronto on Monday, the Sox have plated eight in a span of 28 frames.

It is the second of three games between the teams, the first of which resulted in a 4-3 Boston win. The Sox are now 56-17 against the O's since the start of the 2006 season.

The pitching matchup is a good one. John Lackey, who has had great success against Baltimore, opposes rising star Brian Matusz, the only pitcher on the entire Orioles staff with a win this season.

WHEN AND WHERE

Orioles (2-15) vs. Red Sox (7-10)
Saturday, April 24, 7 p.m. (NESN)
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

Boston has won nine straight against Baltimore.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Brian Matusz (2-0, 4.34 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (1-1, 5.63 ERA)

Just when we thought Lackey was the one constant amid a woeful start for the Red Sox, he added to their misery with a horrid start on Patriots' Day. In just 3 1/3 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, Lackey gave up eight runs on nine hits.

He'll have a shot at getting back on track against the Orioles. In 12 career starts vs. Baltimore, Lackey is 8-3 with a 3.16 ERA.

This will be Boston's first look at Matusz, the former first-round pick of the Orioles who figures to be their staff ace for years to come. The lefty has struck out 23 in 18 2/3 innings and has yet to allow a home run.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• The Sox' bullpen had gone 21 1/3 innings without allowing a run before Daniel Bard gave up a two-run homer to Adam Jones on Friday.
• David Ortiz's home run Friday night was his first in the month of April since April 30, 2008. His walk in the eighth was the 800th of his career.
• Boston picked off Baltimore shortstop Cesar Izturis on Friday, the first opposing base runner caught by the Sox since April 7. Thirty-three straight stolen base attempts had been successful against Boston in between.

Orioles

• Center fielder Adam Jones snapped an 0-for-16 slump with his homer in the seventh Friday.
• The Orioles left a season-high 12 men on base Friday.
• Jeremy Guthrie is winless in four outings this year, despite posting a quality start in each.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• A CT scan done on left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury revealed hairline fractures in four ribs. He is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list April 27. Team officials said his treatment plan will not change and he will resume play only when his symptoms are gone.
• Manager Terry Francona said Friday that Daisuke Matsuzaka will return to pitch at some point in the Baltimore series next weekend, but has not confirmed exactly when. In three rehab starts in the minors while recovering from a neck strain, the right-hander was 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a sports hernia. His term is retroactive to April 19. Both he and Ellsbury will travel with the team to Toronto if they are able to perform any baseball-related activities.

Orioles

• Third baseman Miguel Tejada returned Friday from a strained hip abductor.
• Closer Mike Gonzalez will not need surgery on his shoulder. He is expected to start a rehab program in Florida and could be ready in mid-March.
• Second baseman Brian Roberts went on the DL on April 10 with a strained abdominal muscle. He is out until May.
• Outfielder Felix Pie is out three months with a torn muscle in his back.

OUTLOOK

Before the series began, Francona was asked if he had any trepidation facing the Orioles since they are due for a win. His response was classic in its simplicity.

"They can beat us if we don't play good," he said.

Well, the Sox walked seven and managed just six hits Friday night and still found a way to defeat the O's. Until we see Baltimore end this drought, we will expect more of the same.