Scutaro is a .304 (7-for-23) hitter against New York Yankees starter A.J. Burnett. Jed Lowrie, who has been bothered by a shoulder ailment, is just 2-for-12 (.167) with four strikeouts.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona indicated Tuesday that Lowrie might be back in there at shortstop against Burnett, but has altered that plan, either because of the matchups or due to the shoulder.

Scutaro is one of a handful of Boston starters with success against Burnett. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Carl Crawford each have averages over .300 against the right-hander. David Ortiz, who drew some ire from Yankees manager Joe Girardi for his dramatic bat flip following a home run in the series opener, is a .256 (10-for-39) hitter against Burnett, but three of his hits were home runs and five of them doubles.

One noteworthy development in the lineup is the insertion of Jason Varitek with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield on the mound. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had been handling the bulk of the catching duties with Wakefield pitching this year. Also, Varitek will probably be behind the plate Thursday catching Josh Beckett, giving the veteran catcher back-to-back games in oppressive heat.

Below are the complete batting orders for both Boston and New York.

Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Carl Crawford, LF
Marco Scutaro, SS
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C

New York
Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Brett Gardner, LF
Eduardo Nunez, 3B
Francisco Cervelli, C

Josh Reddick has been instituted in the lineup after a recall from Triple-A Pawtucket. He will play right field and bat eighth. J.D. Drew has been dealing with a sore right hamstring, Darnell McDonald is reportedly headed to the disabled list with a quad injury and Terry Francona wanted another left-hander in to face Max Scherzer, so Mike Cameron begins the game on the bench.

Reddick has hit just .248 in 44 games for the PawSox, but he has 12 home runs and 29 RBIs in that span, both tops on the team.

The young outfielder will be batting two spots behind Carl Crawford, who is getting his second career start in the sixth spot in the lineup. His first in that role came Wednesday, and Crawford went 4-for-4 with a home run.

Drew Sutton will give Jed Lowrie a rest and play shortstop. Lowrie had played in 12 straight games and 24 of the last 25. His average is down to .300 for the first time since April 6. Kevin Youkilis returns to third base after a game off with a sore left hand.

David Ortiz, batting fifth, is 3-for-5 with two home runs against Scherzer.

Here is the complete batting order for both teams.

Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Carl Crawford, LF
Drew Sutton, SS
Josh Reddick, RF
Jason Varitek, C

Tigers
Austin Jackson, CF
Don Kelly, LF
Brennan Boesch, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Alex Avila, C
Scott Sizemore, 2B
Brandon Inge, 3B

Youkilis was a late scratch due to a sore left hand, reportedly from a dive he made in the field Tuesday night. Drew is sitting against a right-hander because of a sore right hamstring, which he received making a running catch in the ninth inning Tuesday.

Drew Sutton, who started in Pedroia's place last night, will play third base with Youkilis out. Mike Cameron is playing right field in place of Drew.

Pedroia, mired in a month-long slump, was showing slight signs of a turnaround before his fall the other night. He is 5-for-16 (.313) with three walks and two stolen bases in his last four games overall.

Additionally, Pedroia is one of a handful in Wednesday's batting order to have had some success against Cleveland Indians starter Mitch Talbot. He is 3-for-7 (.429) with a pair of RBIs against the young right-hander.

As a whole, Boston's lineup is 9-for-26 (.346) with a home run, two doubles and four walks against Talbot.

Carl Crawford, who homered and scored twice in the series opener, was originally penciled into the seventh spot in the lineup but was bumped to sixth with the insertion of Sutton into the nine-hole. It marks the first time in his career that Crawford has started a game batting sixth.

Cameron settles in behind Crawford in the eighth spot. Cameron has been giving Drew days off against left-handers but is getting a rare start against a righty due to Drew's hamstring issue.

This is the first time all year that Cameron has batted eighth.

Here is a look at the complete batting order in support of Jon Lester, followed by Cleveland's lineup.

Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Jed Lowrie, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Mike Cameron, RF
Drew Sutton, 3B

Indians
Michael Brantley, CF
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Shin-Soo Choo, RF
Shelley Duncan, DH
Matt LaPorta, 1B
Austin Kearns, LF
Jack Hannahan, 3B
Lou Marson, C
Adam Everett, 2B

Francona might not be expecting very much production, if history is any guide.

The Red Sox lineup is a combined 5-for-33 (.152) against Indians right-hander and former Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson. The first seven hitters are 2-for-22 (.091).

One factor working in Boston's favor is the presence of Adrian Gonzalez, the lone Red Sox starter yet to get his hacks in on Masterson. Gonzalez enters hitting .342 after a 10-for-15 showing in the weekend series against the Chicago Cubs.

The slugging first baseman has six of his nine home runs and nine of his 15 doubles on the road, where he has played six fewer games than at Fenway Park. He went deep in Cleveland back in April, one of the few bright spots in a three-game Cleveland sweep.

Also hot at the plate is catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, batting ninth against Masterson. The young catcher is batting .389 (7-for-18) during a five-game hitting streak. Three of the seven hits have been home runs and one was an RBI double that proved to be the difference in a 1-0 win over Detroit last week.

Clay Buchholz is on the mound for Boston. Here is the full batting order for the Sox, followed by that of the Tribe:

Boston
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Cleveland
Michael Brantley, CF
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Shin-Soo Choo, RF
Travis Buck, DH
Matt LaPorta, 1B
Orlando Cabrera, 2B
Jack Hannahan, 3B
Austin Kearns, LF
Lou Marson, C

Jacoby Ellsbury will be starting in center field and batting leadoff for the 18th straight time, looking to extend his hitting streak to 19 games.

Ellsbury is batting .367 (29-for-79) during the stretch, the third of his career that has lasted this long. His career high is 22 straight games with a hit.

Behind Ellsbury sits Dustin Pedroia, mired in a lengthy slump that has seen his average fall to .237.

Carl Crawford hits eighth once again. He has a nine-game hitting streak, during which he has two game-winning hits. It was Crawford's double in the 11th that gave the Red Sox a walk-off win Monday night at Fenway Park.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia gets the start behind the plate and hits ninth.

No Boston hitters have faced Toronto right-hander Kyle Drabek. Plenty of those in the Blue Jays lineup have seen Red Sox starter Jon Lester.

Among those to look out for is left fielder Corey Patterson, who is 5-for-12 (.417) with a home run off Lester. Second baseman Aaron Hill is just 2-for-26 (.077) vs. the lefty.

Here are the complete lineups for both teams:

Red Sox

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Blue Jays

Yunel Escobar, C
Corey Patterson, LF
Jose Bautista, RF
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Juan Rivera, DH
J.P. Arencibia, C
John McDonald, 3B
Rajai Davis, CF

Jason Varitek

Varitek, who caught Clay Buchholz for the first time this season Wednesday in Oakland, has been paired with Josh Beckett for three straight games. The first two resulted in gems from Beckett, who gave up just one run in 15 total innings.

The captain is just 1-for-20 this season and is hitless in his last 14 at-bats.

Drew has gone 3-for-8 with a home run, a triple and a walk in two games atop the order. He, like each of his teammates, has never faced Angels rookies right-hander Tyler Chatwood.

The scorching Jed Lowrie draws another starting assignment at shortstop, one day after serving as the team’s third baseman. Lowrie, who homered Wednesday, is batting .531 (17-for-32) with 11 RBIs in his last nine games.

Here is the full batting order against Chatwood, followed by the Angels order against Beckett:

Red Sox

J.D. Drew, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Jed Lowrie, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Jason Varitek, C
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

Angels

Maicer Izturis, 3B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Bobby Abreu, DH
Torii Hunter, RF
Vernon Wells, LF
Hank Conger, C
Mark Trumbo, 1B
Erick Aybar, SS
Peter Bourjos, CF

The most noteworthy move was sliding Dustin Pedroia into the No. 3 hole and bumping Carl Crawford – who batted in the No. 3 and No. 7 slots over the weekend in Texas — into the second slot behind leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury. Crawford was 0-for-7 with four strikeouts batting third, but got his first two hits and first RBI in a Red Sox uniform on Sunday while batting seventh.

The red-hot David Ortiz will be in the No. 6 slot behind Kevin Youkilis while Adrian Gonzalez bats cleanup.

Also somewhat surprising is the fact that Jarrod Saltalamacchia gets his fourth straight start behind the dish. Many felt that Jason Varitek would make his 2011 debut and be paired with starter Josh Beckett, but Francona may be saving Varitek for Wednesday's starter, Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Matsuzaka had many of his best innings this spring with Varitek behind the plate and has often had more success throwing the the captain.

Check out the Sox lineup below.

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Marco Scutaro, SS

Here's how the Indians will start against Beckett.

Michael Brantley, CF
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Shin-Shoo Choo, RF
Carlos Santana, C
Travis Hafner, DH
Orlando Cabrera, 2B
Austin Kearns, LF
Matt LaPorta, 1B
Jack Hannahan, 3B

Throughout the rather brief stretch, which ended when Ortiz caught fire in May, Francona insisted there was not a platoon situation. He has said the same about the current state of things in right field. For a day, however, J.D. Drew is being sat down with lefty C.J. Wilson (3-1, 1.42 ERA vs. Boston) on the mound Friday in Texas.

This decision might be easier to make than the Ortiz-Lowell swap. Francona can turn to the production vs. southpaws for Drew and for that of his replacement, Mike Cameron, and make a rather easy call.

Drew hit .208 with 44 strikeouts in 149 at-bats vs. left-handers in 2010. Cameron, in somewhat limited action, hit .357 (15-for-42) with an OPS nearly twice that of Drew's. For their careers, Cameron's OPS against left-handers is 86 points higher than that of Drew and the defensive dropoff may not be much with Drew out of the mix.

The question is, do those numbers imply that Francona will use Cameron against all lefties, despite what he says? The answer will come in time.

With his Opening Day lineup, Francona may have also tipped his hand on plans for what how he will handle Adrian Gonzalez this year as well. He has Gonzalez batting fifth, a spot he may see plenty of when lefties are on the mound. Gonzalez figures to flip-flop with Kevin Youkilis, Friday's cleanup hitter, when righties are on the mound.

Wilson has dominated the Red Sox in his career. He was 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three meetings last season and Friday's starters for Boston are a combined 9-for-57 (.158) with 15 strikeouts vs. Wilson.

With Jon Lester (3-1, 2.94 ERA vs. Texas) on the mound, here is the complete batting lineup for Boston.

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Cameron, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Marco Scutaro, SS

Here is the complete batting lineup for the Rangers.

Ian Kinsler, 2B
Elvis Andrus, SS
Josh Hamilton, LF
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Michael Young, DH
Nelson Cruz, RF
Mike Napoli, 1B
Yorvit Torrealba, C
Julio Borbon, CF

Jacoby Ellsbury will get the night off, bumping Pedroia up a notch and sliding Carl Crawford to the two-hole and Kevin Youkilis to the third spot in the lineup.

Adrian Gonzalez, who is batting cleanup, will be playing in back-to-back big league games for the first time this spring. He was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in an 11-8 loss to Toronto on Friday.

Darnell McDonald takes over for Ellsbury in center field. Mike Cameron will play right field, as J.D. Drew gets a night off after going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

With Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound for Boston, here is the complete batting order for both teams:

Red Sox

Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Cameron, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Jed Lowrie, SS
Darnell McDonald, CF

Twins

Denard Span, CF
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Jason Kubel, RF
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Danny Valencia, 3B
Alexi Casilla, SS

The contest features two of the best young pitchers in their respective leagues, with Boston lefty Jon Lester opposing Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson, both of whom are enjoying very solid springs.

Lester, 27, has yet to allow a run in six Grapefruit League innings. The 19-game winner has struck out six and walked one in that span.

Hanson, meanwhile, has yielded just one run in nine frames thus far. The 24-year-old is 21-15 with a 3.16 ERA through two seasons with Atlanta.

The game marks the second of two straight in the northern part of the Grapefruit League map for the Red Sox. Behind five scoreless innings from Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Sox edged Detroit 2-1 on Tuesday in Lakeland.

When and Where

Red Sox vs. Braves
1:05 p.m.
Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Pitching matchup

LHP Jon Lester (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Tommy Hanson (2-0, 1.00)

Lester faced the Braves just once in his career during the regular season. He got the win in that start after allowing one run in six innings.

Hanson was even better in his only meeting in the series. Pitching against Boston at Turner Field on June 28, 2009, he let up only two singles in six innings of a 2-0 win, outdueling Red Sox starter Brad Penny.

Lineups

Did you know?

The Boston Braves Historical Society has existed since 1992 to "keep alive the memory of the Boston Braves." The franchise played in Boston from 1876-1952, carrying with it the nicknames of the Red Caps, Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, Braves, Bees and then Braves again.

Carl Crawford

The All-Star left fielder will have the chance to reconnect with old friends when he leads the Red Sox into a matchup with the Rays on Thursday afternoon.

"It's gonna be weird just standing on the other side, facing one of the guys you got ready before games with all the time and just being in a Red Sox uniform," Crawford said. "I've got to get used to it. I'm glad I'm getting used to it in spring training."

Crawford is Tampa Bay's all-time leader in games played, runs, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, RBIs and stolen bases. He is also the franchise leader in batting average with a .296 career mark with the Rays.

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon is looking forward to seeing his former left fielder and thanking him for his service.

"I have not had the chance to congratulate him in person on his new contract," Maddon told MLB.com. "We did the texting thing a little bit and he responded. [But] I have not had the chance to in person tell him how much I appreciate what he had done for us."

When and where

Red Sox vs. Rays
1:05 p.m.
Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte, Fla.

Pitching matchup

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 10.80 ERA) vs. RHP Andy Sonnanstine (0-2, 20.25)

The two righties have combined to give up 18 runs on 17 hits (seven home runs) in nine innings so far this spring.

Lineups

Did you know?

The Rays outscored the Red Sox 50-31 in going 5-0-1 against during spring training last year.

John Lackey

The big right-hander got his feet wet in a two-inning effort against Atlanta last Wednesday. He surrendered four hits — one a solo homer — in that outing. Lackey figures to get three innings of work this time out, maybe four if he is efficient.

Lackey threw primarily fastballs in that start. He said he will try to vary his arsenal a bit more this time out, but will continue to pump in four-seamers in an effort to build up his arm strength.

Dan Wheeler, Randy Williams and Kyle Weiland are among those scheduled to appear in relief.

Boston is 3-5 (with one tie) on the Grapefruit League slate after a 6-5 loss to the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie on Sunday.

When and where

Orioles vs. Red Sox
1:05 p.m.
City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, Fla.

Pitching matchup

RHP Chris Tillman (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (0-0, 4.50)

Lackey is 10-4 with a 3.05 ERA against the Orioles in his career in the regular season. Tillman gave up four runs in 1 1/3 inning in his only appearance against Boston.

Lineups

Orioles lineup will be posted prior to first pitch.

Did you know?

Outfielder Ryan Kalish was the winner of the "Dancing with the New Stars" event Saturday night, defending his crown from 2010. The event, which raises money for The Red Sox Foundation, has veterans judge some of the younger players in camp on their dance moves. Kalish beat out challengers Ryan Lavarnway, Jason Rice and Luis Exposito.

Among those on the judge's panel were Tim Wakefield, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis.

Lester was lined up for what would be his second start of the spring but has been scratched because of a flu bug that is going through the clubhouse. Michael Bowden will get the start in his place, with Hideki Okajima and Andrew Miller among those slated to appear in relief.

Miller has struck out three in two scoreless innings so far.

Several regulars will stay behind after a split-squad day Saturday. The Sox dropped an 11-2 decision at home to Florida, and tied Baltimore 4-4 in 10 innings up in Sarasota.

When and where

Red Sox vs. Mets
1:10 p.m.
Digital Domain Park

Pitching matchup

RHP Michael Bowden (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Jonathon Niese (0-0, 0.00)

Bowden has struck out three and walked two in two scoreless innings. Niese threw three scoreless frames in his only start of the spring.

Did you know?

Second base prospect Oscar Tejeda is 7-for-13 (.571) with the team's only two triples and a team-high six RBIs this spring.

That was a long time ago. On Wednesday at City of Palms Park, they will be two veterans just looking to start their spring training on the right foot.

Lackey was downright dominant last spring, looking extremely comfortable in his first days in a Red Sox uniform. Once the regular season started, there were some ups and downs and a long period of adjustment for him.

Seemingly, he has found that comfort zone once again and is primed to be the staff leader in innings and starts once again, a goal he has set for himself.

Lackey will be followed by Kyle Weiland, Alex Wilson, Scott Atchison and Hideki Okajima.

Hudson, 35, is coming off one of the finest seasons of his career. He was 17-9 with a 2.83 in 34 starts with Atlanta last season.

The visit from the Braves marks their first to City of Palms Park without Bobby Cox at the helm. Cox managed the club from 1990 (three years before Boston moved to its Fort Myers home) until his final season in 2010.

When and Where

Braves vs. Red Sox
1:05 p.m.
City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, Fla.

Pitching matchup

Tim Hudson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. John Lackey (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Hudson always struggled against the Red Sox when he faced them more regularly. He is 3-9 with a 6.26 ERA lifetime vs. Boston. Lackey has only faced the Braves once in his career. Kyle Weiland, Alex Wilson, Scott Atchison, Hideki Okajima and Clevelan Santeliz are also expected to get some work in for the Sox.

Lineups

Did you know?

Josh Reddick, the best hitter for the Red Sox throughout spring training 2010, already leads the team in hits, RBIs and total bases.

The Red Sox will take the field for a pair of seven-inning games against Boston College and Northeastern, simply looking to take that next step in getting ready for Opening Day.

Several regulars will play in the opener against the Eagles, including Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. In all likelihood, neither will receive more than two at-bats, but getting back on the field is a significant benchmark.

“I’m excited,” Pedroia told reporters Friday. “My biggest thing is to get out there and just get in the flow of the game, and make sure I’m healthy and feel good…Just see pitches, get used to everything and that’s it. I just can’t wait. It’s going to be fun.”

Pedroia is one of five Red Sox players in the two games whose seasons ended early because of a physical issue. Youkilis, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron and Marco Scutaro are the others.

Youkilis hasn’t played since August. Ellsbury was limited to just 18 games all last year. Cameron’s last game was July 30. Scutaro couldn’t play shortstop down the stretch in 2010 and was shut down before the final series.

Bench coach DeMarlo Hale discussed the lines of communication between such players and staff that have been critical this spring. It has helped to get everyone on the same page and thrilled to be together on the field again.

“We had a very good pace [in camp],” Hale said. “There was energy. We, as a staff, kind of prepare those veterans to set the tone. Some of the things I liked that we showed in the first nine days was the energy, the concentration.”

That energy and concentration will have to carry the club through the next seven or eight months. It all starts with a chance to get loose.

Boston is limping to the finish line with almost its entire Opening Night lineup no longer available. It has lost five in a row and will finish shy of 90 wins for the first time in five years and the second time in 11 years.

Meanwhile, the Yankees still have plenty to play for. They enter the day tied with Tampa Bay atop the American League East. The Rays own the tiebreaker so must win and hope for a Rays loss to claim the crown, otherwise they are wild-card bound.

WHEN AND WHERE

Yankees (95-66) at Red Sox (88-73)
Sunday, Oct. 3, 1:35 p.m. NESN
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The Yankees own an 9-8 series advantage.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Dustin Moseley (4-3, 4.77 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (13-11, 4.47 ERA)

An inconsistent first year in Boston has Lackey looking for a strong finish. He has allowed only three runs in 13 innings over his last two starts, striking out nine and walking two.

Lackey is 5-8 with a 4.57 ERA lifetime vs. the Yankees. One of those losses came Aug. 7 in New York, where he gave up five runs in six innings.

Moseley was announced as the starter after Saturday's doubleheader ended early Sunday morning. He is 2-0 with a 4.82 ERA vs. Boston.

LINEUPS

Lineups will be posted approximately four hours before pitch.

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Boston has lost eight of the last 11 seasons series with New York, tying two of the others.
• Catcher Victor Martinez has hit safely in 15 straight home games, batting .379 (22-for-58) in that span.
• Outfielder Ryan Kalish has seven stolen bases since Sept. 6. No other Red Sox player has more than nine with the team all year.

Yankees

• Right-hander Kerry Wood's consecutive scoreless streak of 21 came to an end in the first game Saturday.
• Outfielder Brett Gardner is 4-for-5 with three walks against Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon.
• New York is 25-2 in games in which Robinson Cano homers.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Sept. 3 on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (ribs) will not resume any baseball-related activities until after the season ends.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal tear.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Left-hander Felix Doubront has pain behind his left clavicle. He will not pitch again this season but hopes to throw a bullpen session before the regular season ends.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Yankees

• Designated hitter Nick Johnson is out for the year with an inflamed right wrist tendon.
• Right-hander Alfredo Aceves will not return due to a strained lower back.
• Left-hander Damaso Marte is on the 60-day DL with left shoulder inflammation.

OUTLOOK

It all comes down to this. Unfortunately it only means something to one team. Time for the Red Sox to play the ultimate spoiler.

The Sox, who entered the series throwing Daisuke Matsuzaka in the first game and Clay Buchholz in the second game, have altered their plans quite a bit. Tim Wakefield will throw the opener of the twinbill in place of Buchholz, who was scratched with lower back pain, and Matsuzaka will pitch in the nightcap.

The Yankees will stay in line with Andy Pettitte in the afternoon and A.J. Burnett at night.

New York enters one-half game ahead of Tampa Bay in the American League East race. Boston enters needing a sweep of the three-game weekend series in order to reach 90 wins for the fourth straight year.

Prior to Saturday's game the Sox will honor the retiring Mike Lowell as part of "Thanks, Mike Night" at the park.

WHEN AND WHERE

Yankees (94-65) at Red Sox (87-72)
Saturday, Oct. 2, 4:10 p.m. & 9:05 p.m.
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The Yankees own an 8-7 series advantage.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.17 ERA) vs. RHP Tim Wakefield (4-10, 5.20 ERA), Game One

Wakefield will be called upon to make his 19th start of the season after Buchholz suffered a lower back strain throwing a side session Friday. The 44-year-old Wakefield is 4-9 with a 3.08 ERA as a starter, the last being a win in a five-inning effort against Tampa Bay on Sept. 8.

The knuckleballer has allowed one run in 9 1/3 innings of relief against the Yankees this year.

Pettitte will be making his third start since returning from the disabled list. He had a gem in Baltimore and then was knocked around by the Sox a week ago in Yankee Stadium.

In just 3 1/3 innings vs. Boston, Pettitte surrendered seven runs — six earned — and was on the losing end of a 10-8 slugfest. He is 18-10 lifetime against the Red Sox.

RHP A.J. Burnett (10-15, 5.33 ERA) vs. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6, 4.72 ERA), Game Two

Facing the Yankees on Sunday night in New York, Matsuzaka had his best start in nearly two months, allowing two runs on four hits in eight innings. Unfortunately, both runs came on a two-run homer by Alex Rodriguez in the seventh, a shot which gave the Yanks the lead.

Matsuzaka has just one win in his last eight starts. His last win at home came Aug. 5 vs. Cleveland. The righty is 3-3 with a 5.70 ERA vs. New York in his career.

Burnett's wildly inconsistent campaign continued six days ago when he gave up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings against Toronto. He is 3-8 with a 6.19 ERA since the All-Star break and the Red Sox are not the best opponent to help him break out of it.

The 33-year-old Burnett is 0-3 with a 9.40 ERA against Boston since he joined the Yankees before the 2009 season.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Catcher Victor Martinez is batting .400 (24-for-60) over his last 15 games.
• Outfielder Darnell McDonald had his team-leading 12th sacrifice bunt Thursday night.
• Outfielder Ryan Kalish has six stolen bases in his last 19 games. He had just one over his first 31.

Yankees

• Third baseman Alex Rodriguez hit his 30th home run Wednesday to extend his own record of seasons with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs to 14.
• New York leads the majors with 47 comeback wins.
• The Yanks have lost nine straight games started by left-handed pitchers.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Sept. 3 on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (ribs) will not resume any baseball-related activities until after the season ends.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal tear.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Left-hander Felix Doubront has pain behind his left clavicle. He will not pitch again this season but hopes to throw a bullpen session before the regular season ends.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Yankees

• Designated hitter Nick Johnson is out for the year with an inflamed right wrist tendon.
• Right-hander Alfredo Aceves will not return due to a strained lower back.
• Left-hander Damaso Marte is on the 60-day DL with left shoulder inflammation.

OUTLOOK

There will be plenty of pomp and circumstance surrounding Lowell's tribute and other end-of-year events and promotions. There will be plenty of sunshine after a miserable Friday night. And there will be plenty of baseball for those still starved for a bit of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.

All eyes will be on Jon Lester, who aims for 20 victories in his final start of an outstanding season. John Danks looks for his 15th win for the White Sox.

Chicago has taken the last two meetings, both with plenty of runs late in the game. It scored three times in the seventh and once in the eighth to take Wednesday's meeting 5-2.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (87-70) at White Sox (84-73)
Wednesday, Sept. 29, 8:10 p.m.
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago

HEAD TO HEAD

The White Sox have won five of six matchups this year.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Jon Lester (19-8, 2.96 ERA) vs. LHP John Danks (14-11, 3.74 ERA)

Lester has arguably been the best pitcher in baseball over the last month or so, going 6-0 with a 1.76 ERA since a disastrous outing vs. Toronto back on Aug. 20.

With a win Lester, would become the first Red Sox lefty to reach 20 wins in a season since Mel Parnell in 1953. He would also be just the second in the American League to get to that milestone in 2010.

Lester is 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA vs. Chicago.

Danks went through a recent rough patch (1-3, 5.98 ERA in seven starts) before going eight strong innings in Los Angeles five days ago. He picked up a career high 14 wins after allowing just two runs against the Angels.

The lefty yielded a run in seven innings to lead Chicago to a 3-1 win at Fenway Park on Sept. 4.

LINEUPS

Lineups will be available approximately four hours before first pitch.

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• David Ortiz has 1,000 RBIs as a designated hitter, three shy of tying Edgar Martinez for the all-time record.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie is batting .372 (16-for-43) over his last 12 games.
• Outfielder Daniel Nava has gone 149 at-bats without a home run since he slugged one on the first pitch he ever saw in the majors.

White Sox

• Chicago had 12 singles and a solo homer in Wednesday's win.
• Outfielder Alejandro De Aza began his career 0-for-10. He is 4-for-6 since
• Left-hander Matt Thornton has two wins, two saves and 8 2/3 scoreless innings over his last six appearances.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Sept. 3 on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (ribs) will not resume any baseball-related activities until after the season ends.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal tear.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Left-hander Felix Doubront has pain behind his left clavicle. He will not pitch again this season but hopes to throw a bullpen session before the regular season ends.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

White Sox

• Outfielder Alex Rios left Monday's game after fouling a pitch off his right leg.
• Right-hander Gavin Floyd may not pitch again this year after leaving his last start with shoulder tightness.
• Second baseman Gordon Beckham has been bothered by a bruised right hand.
• Right-hander Bobby Jenks is out with a sore right forearm.
• Right-hander Jake Peavy had season-ending surgery to repair a detached muscle in his back on July 14.

OUTLOOK

Essentially, all that matters is how Lester performs.

Josh Beckett

Beckett will be trying to keep alive a string of solid starts for the staff.

Beginning with Jon Lester's gem Saturday in New York, the rotation has a 1.55 ERA in four starts.

The Sox, eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday, will be facing veteran Freddy Garcia. The White Sox, fresh off a walk-off win on Tuesday, were eliminated from making the postseason on Sept. 21, when they lost to the A's.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (87-70) at White Sox (84-73)
Wednesday, Sept. 29, 8:10 p.m.
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago

HEAD TO HEAD

The White Sox have won four of five matchups this year.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Josh Beckett (6-5, 5.77 ERA) vs. RHP Freddy Garcia (11-6, 4.74 ERA)

Beckett's string of quality starts ended at five his last time out in New York but he was able to get the win over the Yankees. He gave up five runs in 6 2/3 innings in a 10-8 victory.

The righty is 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA in seven starts vs. Chicago. He is 3-1 at U.S. Cellular Field.

The veteran Garcia has also enjoyed success in these matchups. He is 7-2 lifetime vs. Boston, including a win at Fenway Park last September.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Right-hander Daniel Bard has given up 12 hits and eight walks in 12 innings this month.
• David Ortiz has 999 RBIs as a designated hitter, four shy of tying Edgar Martinez for the all-time record.
• Third baseman Adrian Beltre needs one double to become the ninth player in team history to have 50 in a season.

White Sox

• Outfielder Juan Pierre has 63 stolen bases, two shy of matching his career high.
• Designated hitter Manny Ramirez is 3-for-7 with two walks in the series.
• Chicago is 27-21 in one-run games.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Sept. 3 on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (ribs) will not resume any baseball-related activities until after the season ends.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal tear.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Left-hander Felix Doubront has pain behind his left clavicle. He will not pitch again this season but hopes to throw a bullpen session before the regular season ends.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

White Sox

• Outfielder Alex Rios left Monday's game after fouling a pitch off his right leg.
• Right-hander Gavin Floyd may not pitch again this year after leaving his last start with shoulder tightness.
• Second baseman Gordon Beckham has been bothered by a bruised right hand.
• Right-hander Bobby Jenks is out with a sore right forearm.
• Right-hander Jake Peavy had season-ending surgery to repair a detached muscle in his back on July 14.

OUTLOOK

Beckett has been building momentum for some time now, little by little. He won't be able to take that momentum into October for a change, but ending on a good note cannot hurt his chances for a bounceback 2011 campaign.

Boston took the opener of a four-game set with the White Sox by a 6-1 score Monday night. Clay Buchholz tossed eight dominant innings to secure his 17th victory.

The Red Sox have won seven of their last eight road games.
John Lackey, who was a hard-luck loser against Chicago at Fenway Park earlier this month, opposes Edwin Jackson on the mound.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (87-69) at White Sox (83-73)
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 8:10 p.m.
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago

HEAD TO HEAD

The road team has won all four meetings this year.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP John Lackey (13-11, 4.51 ERA) vs. RHP Edwin Jackson (3-2, 3.18 ERA)

Lackey’s up and down campaign was up six days ago at home, where he dominated the Baltimore Orioles to pick up his 13th win on his fifth try. With two starts left he has an outside chance to reach 15 wins for just the second time in his career.

Lackey is 3-6 with a 3.86 ERA vs. Chicago.

Jackson knows a thing or two about inconsistency. His ERA has been on a roller coaster ride over the past four months, progressing as follows: 2.11 in June, 7.24 in July, 1.47 in August, 5.61 in September.

The former Tampa Bay Ray is 2-4 with a 5.70 ERA against the White Sox.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre both reached the 100-RBI mark Monday, becoming the first Red Sox teammates to do so in the same year since Ortiz and Mike Lowell in 2007.
• Catcher Victor Martinez has 23 RBIs in 24 games in September.
• Boston has won seven of its last eight road games.

White Sox

• Designated hitter Manny Ramirez on Monday had more than one hit for the first time in 11 games.
• Chicago’s 1-4 hitters were a combined 1-for-16 with four strikeouts on Monday night.
• The White Sox have lost seven straight home games.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Sept. 3 on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (ribs) will not resume any baseball-related activities until after the season ends.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal tear.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Left-hander Felix Doubront has pain behind his left clavicle. He will not pitch again this season but hopes to throw a bullpen session before the regular season ends.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

White Sox

• Outfielder Alex Rios left Monday’s game after fouling a pitch off his right leg.
• Right-hander Gavin Floyd may not pitch again this year after leaving his last start with shoulder tightness.
• Second baseman Gordon Beckham has been bothered by a bruised right hand.
• Right-hander Bobby Jenks is out with a sore right forearm.
• Right-hander Jake Peavy had season-ending surgery to repair a detached muscle in his back on July 14.

OUTLOOK

Lackey is among many Red Sox players who would like to carry some momentum into the offseason. Improving on a 3-6 road record cannot hurt.