Here's a preview of the game:

RED SOX (60-66)
Podsednik LF
Pedroia 2B
Ellsbury CF
Ross RF
Gomez 1B
Saltalamacchia C
Lavarnway DH
Aviles SS
Ciriaco 3B
Pitching: RHP Aaron Cook (3-7, 4.79)

ROYALS (55-69)
Dyson CF
Escobar SS
Gordon LF
Butler DH
Perez C
Moustakas 3B
Francoeur RF
Hosmer 1B
Abreu 2B
Pitching: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (2-3, 3.23)

Game time: 7:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI

Stat of the Day: The all-time series between the Sox and Royals is 217-217.

Notes: David Ortiz is out of the lineup after playing one game on his strained right Achilles tendon. ... Cook is starting in place of Beckett. He started on Tuesday and threw 85 pitches, so he may be a little limited today. ... Guthrie is 3-8, 4.50 in 19 career appearances against the Sox, 17 of them starts. ... Podsednik has hit safely in 10 of 11 starts in Boston this season, including seven multi-hit efforts. In 13 home games this season, he is 18 for 40 (.450) with four doubles. He has a .388 career average (33 for 85) at Fenway, hitting safely in 20 of 24 games. ... Pedroia has hit safely in 19 of 22 games in August at .348 (31 for 89) with nine doubles, 13 RBI and 18 runs. ... Ciriaco is 28 of his last 76 (.368) with six doubles and eight RBIs.

Song of the Day: "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" by Billy Joel.