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Wakefield to start Tuesday

Print | Comments () Posted by Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff September 23, 2009 06:37 PM

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The Red Sox have penciled in Tim Wakefield to make his next start Tuesday, against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. The plan is for Josh Beckett to pitch Monday, which would give him four days of rest. Assuming the Red Sox have shored up a playoff spot by then, Beckett would be able to pitch a shortened start.

Throwing Beckett on Monday would give the Red Sox options for how they handle the final days of his season. They could give him at least eight days of rest before Game 1 of the American League Division Series, depending if the Yankees' choice of series dates means the Sox start their ALDS series on Oct. 7 or Oct. 8. The Sox could also let Beckett pitch a very short start next Saturday, which would serve as a glorified side session to prepare him for the first round of the playoffs.

Either way, Wakefield's start will give the Sox some flexibility for aligning their pitching rotation. If Wakefield's health does not allow him to pitch Tuesday, Michael Bowden would be a candidate to make a spot start.