Series might start Wednesday

Angels may favor a 3-man rotation

The Red Sox have not issued statements regarding their playoff plans, but team officials are preparing for the possibility the Sox will need only three starting pitchers in the first round of the playoffs.

According to more than one voice in the organization, the Sox believe the Los Angeles Angels will opt for the first round to start Wednesday rather than Thursday, allowing both clubs to get through the series with three starting pitchers, all on normal rest. Such a scenario defies the popular theory that the Angels would opt to start Thursday, thereby preventing the Sox from using Josh Beckett and Jon Lester twice.

Game 2 will be Friday in Anaheim, Calif.

Starting the series Thursday would eliminate an extra offday (before Game 2) and necessitate the need for a fourth starter if the teams kept their pitchers on regular rest.

By starting Wednesday, there would be offdays before Games 1, 2, 3, and 5. If the series starts Thursday, there would only be offdays before Games 1, 3, and 5.

Aside from ensuring that Beckett and Lester would each start twice during a five-game series, a Wednesday start could have an additional side benefit for the Sox. The need for only three starters could inspire the club to carry just 10 pitchers, allowing for an extra, 15th positional player on the roster. That option could have some value to Boston given the health concerns over J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell.

The Angels have their reasons for starting Wednesday. Los Angeles would be able to go with a three-man rotation of John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Joe Saunders, bypassing Jon Garland and Jered Weaver.

Though Weaver has pitched well the last several weeks, he has been the No. 5 starter and was hit hard in his last outing. Garland has a 7.05 ERA over his last eight starts, during which he has allowed a whopping 79 base runners in 44 2/3 innings.

By adding an offday before Game 2, Angels manager Mike Scioscia would have his entire bullpen at his disposal for virtually the entire series, exploiting one of Anaheim's perceived strengths in the matchup. Entering last night's games, Angels relievers had a 3.73 ERA, fifth in the American League, just ahead of the Red Sox (3.81). Despite those virtually identical numbers, the Los Angeles bullpen is regarded as deeper and more consistent, particularly with the emergence of 24-year-old righthander Jose Arredondo (10-2, 1.65 ERA in 51 appearances) to go with Scot Shields and closer Francisco Rodriguez.

Though only the Toronto Blue Jays have asked fewer innings of their relievers than the Angels in the American League, Scioscia likes to rely on his bullpen. Rodriguez set the major league record for saves (62), and the Angels have the second-best winning percentage in baseball (61-28, .685) in games decided by one or two runs, behind only the Tampa Bay Rays (51-23, .689). The Angels' 61 wins by fewer than three runs are the most in baseball.

The Red Sox are 33-33 in games decided by one or two runs.

The Angels have a three-game lead over Tampa Bay for the league's best record with three games to play, and the Rays have yet to clinch the AL East. The team with the best record has the right to decide when it will open the playoffs - on Wednesday or Thursday.

On Tuesday, after the Sox secured a playoff spot, one Sox official said the club had long since begun postseason planning and the club was proceeding as if the Angels would be the opponent.

Tony Massarotti can be reached at tmassarotti@globe.com and can be read at www.Boston.com/massarotti.