Wakefield Looks to Stymie White Sox in Season’s Most Pivotal Start

Friday night's opener wasn't pretty for the Red Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. Paul Byrd got pummeled by the slugging White Sox, and an early 10-1 deficit made for a snoozefest in the late innings.

Mark Kotsay homered against his former team in the second inning and the White Sox never looked back — Boston took the loss by a 12-2 final. It's never easy to bounce back from a beating like that, but the Red Sox, mired in a close race for the AL wild card, will have to find a way.

When and Where

4:10 p.m. ET (FOX), September 5, 2009
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Ill.

When and Where

Red Sox (78-56, 2nd place in AL East)
White Sox (67-69, 2nd place in AL Central)

Head to Head

After winning their final two games in Minnesota and crushing the visiting Red Sox in their series opener, the local nine from Chicago's South Side are still a long way from having a shot at a playoff spot in the American League. The Detroit Tigers are starting to run away with the AL Central title, and it'll take a lot more than a .500 record to vie for the wild card against the likes of Boston, Texas and Tampa Bay. The Pale Hose are starting to go on a nice little run, but it might very well be too little, too late.

Lineups

Chicago's lineup will be announced as soon as it becomes available.

Pitching Matchup

RHP Tim Wakefield (11-3, 4.12 ERA) vs. RHP Gavin Floyd (10-9, 3.97 ERA)

Maybe this time, he's back for good. Wakefield — who returned from a back injury a week ago Wednesday — received a cortisone shot earlier this week in the hopes of making a full recovery. He's back now, and he's ready to make only his second start since the All-Star break. If he can return to the form that sent him to the Midsummer Classic, he'll be a big help to the Red Sox down the stretch.

Floyd has been through a rough patch recently. He's only allowed nine runs in his past three starts, going 19 1/3 innings (that's a 4.24 ERA), but he hasn't managed to come away with a win in any of them. He's got to get some offense to pick him up — but at the same time, he's got to cut down on the longball. Opposing hitters have taken him deep multiple times in each of his last three times out.

Stat Sheet

Red Sox
The Red Sox have hit 173 home runs this season, tied for third-most in the American League.

Boston is 19-8 against AL Central opponents this season.

Tim Wakefield has faced the White Sox 29 times in his career, 20 as a starter and nine as a reliever. He is 7-11 with a 4.92 ERA.

Kevin Youkilis is hitting .316, eighth-best in the AL.

Jason Bay is 10th in the AL with a .537 slugging percentage.

Dustin Pedroia has scored 94 runs, fifth in the AL.

Alex Gonzalez has a .284 batting average in his first 18 games in a Red Sox uniform this season.

Victor Martinez is hitting .317 with the Red Sox. He has five home runs and 21 RBIs.

J.D. Drew has a 1.058 career OPS against the White Sox. He has homered seven times in 88 at-bats.

Jacoby Ellsbury has a .439 career average against the White Sox. He's also 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts.

Mike Lowell is 1-for-7 in his career against Gavin Floyd. He has a home run, two strikeouts and a walk.

David Ortiz is 3-for-8 against Floyd. He also has one homer and has struck out three times.

White Sox
The White Sox are 23-29 in day games this season.

Gavin Floyd has a 4.07 career ERA after Sept. 1. He has 88 strikeouts and 34 walks in 110 2/3 innings.

Jim Thome has struck out 116 times, ninth-most in the AL.

Scott Podsednik has 25 stolen bases, ninth in the AL.

Carlos Quentin has been hit by 12 pitches this season; teammate Paul Konerko has been hit by nine.

Alex Rios is 10-for-64 (.156) since coming over to Chicago from the Toronto Blue Jays last week.

Mark Kotsay is a .356 career hitter against the Red Sox, his former team. He has 18 extra-base hits in 174 at-bats.

DeWayne Wise has a .222 batting average at home. Both of his two home runs have come at U.S. Cellular Field.

Black and Blue

Red Sox
Daisuke Matsuzaka gave up two home runs, both solo shots, in a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday. In 4 1/3 innings, he gave up just those two runs to the visiting Syracuse Chiefs.

Jed Lowrie, who has been battling a left wrist injury for the better part of this season, hopes to return to the Red Sox soon.

Jeff Bailey, who was battling a high ankle sprain last month, was demoted outright to Pawtucket on Friday. Bailey had been designated for assignment Tuesday.

White Sox
Jake Peavy was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 9 with a strained tendon in his right ankle. There is no timetable for his return.

DeWayne Wise, who was placed on the 15-day DL on Aug.15 with a strained joint in his right shoulder, was activated this week.

Chris Getz was also activated. Getz had been out since Aug. 12 with a strained oblique muscle.

This Date in Red Sox History

The Red Sox earn a pivotal win in their "Impossible Dream" pennant chase on Sept. 5, 1967. Carl Yastrzemski strengthens his case for the AL MVP with two home runs, and the Sox rally for six runs in the fourth to beat Washington 8-2. Boston stays just a half-game back of Minnesota, overtaking the Twins later that week and eventually winning the AL pennant.

Overheard

"I have no idea, but I would love to. Either that one or a Montreal hat. It's not up to me, it's up to the league, but I think Boston without a doubt. I'll take it."
—Pedro Martinez, in an interview with Yahoo Sports' David Brown, on the idea of wearing a Red Sox cap into the Hall of Fame.

Press Box

Red Sox
Paul Byrd got rocked on Friday night.

Mark Kotsay got the best of his former team.

Here's how you bring the heat.

White Sox
Twenty hits did the trick for the South Siders.

What's in store for the White Sox' rotation the rest of the way?

Not much news to report on Jake Peavy.

MLB
Adam Wainwright won his 17th.

Roy Halladay shut down the Yankees on Friday.

Sad news on Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell.

Outlook

The status of Tim Wakefield will be a huge question mark for the Red Sox going forward. If healthy, he's a superb No. 3 starter on a likely playoff-bound team, and he'll surely be a huge boon in October. But if this start reveals that Wake still isn't back to 100 percent, that will put the team's future in serious doubt. Every game is important, but with the status of the Sox' starting rotation on the line, this one is especially vital. Hold your collective breath, Nation.