By Maureen Mullen
CSNNE.com
BOSTONThird baseman Kevin Youkilis is not in the starting lineup today as the Red Sox face Felix Hernandez in the finale of their three-game set at Fenway Park with the Mariners. Jed Lowrie will play third base with Marco Scutaro at shortstop. Youkilis jammed his left hip on a slide in the first inning in Baltimore on Thursday.
Hes a little sore, manager Terry Francona said. I think we thought that unless he was really feeling good we were going to hold him out today and we talked to him early. After talking to the trainers last night I think they all thought if we could give him a day today, it won't linger. So hell take a day off today and well put Jed over there and Scoot at short.
Clay Buchholz will start the opener of the four-game series against the Angels at Fenway on Monday, followed by Jon Lester on Tuesday. Beyond that, Francona is waiting to see how a few situations fall into place, including how Daisuke Matsuzaka bounces back from the tightness in his right elbow that ended his outing early Friday. Matsuzakas regular day would be Wednesday. Josh Beckett has not pitched since April 27. With Jason Varitek catching both Beckett and Matsuzaka, Francona may also want to separate those two in the rotation.
We got obviously Lester Tuesday, Francona said. After that we want to look at this a little bit and see where were standing. We got Daisuke. We may rearrange a little. Well see. Thats why were kind of holding off a little.
We may take this opportunity to tweak our rotation a little bit. Thats just kind of where were at. Put everybody in the best position possible. Well get to it.
Tim Wakefield, who is making his first start of the season, has pitched a total of just two inningsone inning each on April 18 against the
Blue Jays and on April 27 in Baltimore -- since going 3.1 innings on April 11. He has made seven appearances out of the bullpen this season, spanning 11.3 innings. Francona is unsure how much he will be able to get out of his knuckleballer today.
Boston Red Sox
Some of it will depend on the score, how many pitches hes thrown, if hes laboring, how much effort goes into innings. Francona said. Its hard with
Wake because every pitch looks the same and Ive got to remember that hes using his legs and his arm and his shoulder. So well keep an eye on him. He promised me that hell tell us how hes doing. Ive been around him long enough to make sure I get the truth.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia will catch Wakefield today, making the not-unheard-of but somewhat unusual start in a day game after a night game. Francona is unconcerned about that.
Hes a young, strong kid, Francona said. I have no qualms about today.
Saltalamacchia turns 26 on Monday.
The Red Sox continue to struggle offensively with runners in scoring position. After going 0-for-11 in such situations Saturday against the Mariners,
they are 52-for-245 (.212) this season.
Only one guy can hit at a time," Francona said. "We have team stats. They are cumulative but it's probably different every single at bat, every single time.
I know they all get shoved in there statistically but its pretty unique every at-bat. And there are times like last night, Adrian Gonzalez lined into a
double play with the bases loaded and no outs. If that ball were a foot the other way, were saying great. Dustin Pedroia knifes the ball down the right
field line and its this far foul. Sometimes you got to keep some things in perspective. Thats why I talk about having a consistent approach because those
things will even out. Therell be balls that hit fair, therell be balls that find holes.
Maureen Mullen is on Twitter at http:twitter.commaureenamullen.