Red Sox Take a Big Risk With Rotation By Planning for Seven Games

More so than in the past, this 2008 Red Sox team has faced much adversity entering the playoffs. Injuries have dogged this team, especially the latter part of the season and entering the playoffs. Beckett missed the beginning of the Angels series with an oblique injury, and Mike Lowell is likely out for the season with a hip injury. Beginning with their series against the Angels, the Sox did not have an effective Josh Beckett to open the series for them, and when he did pitch he showed the rust from his long layoff. Jon Lester filled in admirably, shutting down the Angels twice, in game one and game four. Daisuke Matsuzaka had mixed results in his start. He was only moderately effective and again was unable to go deep into the game. With four days between series, the Red Sox are wary of having Lester pitch on short rest. Instead of having Beckett open the series in Tampa Bay, they elected to go with a rotation of Matsuzaka in game one, Beckett game two, Lester game three and Wakefield game ... (link)