Red Sox Report 9/4

The Red Sox are off today, but plenty of things that are happening that could affect the Sox playoff chances. The Yankees beat the Rays yesterday which put the Sox back within 3 of the Rays in the AL East. The Twins lost to the Blue Jays as the Red Sox allowing the Red Sox to take a commanding 5 game lead in the Wild Card. As of right now, the Twins are losing 1-0 to the Jays and the Rays have a commanding 5-0 lead over the Yankees in the 3rd.

This might actually be the first them that I, as a Red Sox fan, have wanted to see the Yankees win. If the Yankees beat the Rays, they are actually helping the Sox. Right now, the Yankees look to be too far out to do any damage to the Sox, 7 back now, but the Rays are a legitimate threat because of the fact that they are the ones the Sox are chasing.

The Red Sox will send Josh Beckett to the mound tomorrow against the Rangers in his first start since returning from the disabled list. Those are kind of rough conditions for Beckett to return to as he has to face that Major League leading Rangers offense in Arlington, a noted hitters’ park. However, the Red Sox have had the Rangers’ number this season, beating them in all 6 meetings.  

Not only is Beckett returning from injury to go for the Sox tomorrow, Mike Lowell is also expected to be back in the lineup after missing 19 games. MVP Candidate Kevin Youkilis is expected to be back after missing 4 of the last 5 games with combinations of the stomach flu and back spasms. Youkilis has not played since Monday but with the off day today, he should be good to go in Texas. Both JD Drew and possibly Julio Lugo, who has been out since the All-Star break, are expected to be back within a couple of weeks. Bartolo Colon is expected back soon as well to help in either the rotation or the bullpen.

This is nothing but good news for the Red Sox. The Rays have been playing a little sluggish lately, possibly because of their own injury issues. They have more depth now with the rosters expanded and if they have their roster back at full strength for the stretch run, they should be able to give the Rays a run for their money. Remember, they are only 3 games back. Even if they don’t win the division, they should make the playoffs anyway and if they go into the playoffs with their roster at full strength, they are as good as any team in the playoffs, including the Rays, Cubs, and Angels and have a very good chance to repeat.

-Steven Lourie