The Weekend Series Preview

With Thursday's game still to be played, the Sox look toward their three-game weekend series in Texas, back 5.5 of the Yankees; up 1.5 on the Rangers in the wildcard. This is a big set - don't take it likely...

Attention Tito: Start Lester in New York ONLY

Jon Lester just became the most important man in the Red Sox rotation. Not by design, of course, but out of necessity.

Five and a half games is a strong lead. Not impenetrable, mind you, but strong enough where the Red Sox need to consider what life may be like in the Wild Card...

Time to Count Your Chips

With the Sox back in Boston after a long road trip, it's time to take stock of what the team has left.

Is a playoff appearance still in the cards?


It's a slump. That's it. That has to be it.

Mayday! Mayday! We're going down... aren't we?

Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference between a slump and a freefall. When given the choice, you always root for the slump, because, what other options do you have...

Optimism on The Baseball Show

It's easy to be down on this team right now. Just keep this in mind; the Red Sox are 1 game up on Texas and 2.5 on Tampa Bay with nine games left against the pair for the AL Wild Card. With Josh Beckett and Jon Lester on absolute fire right now, don't think this team is going to slink away and hide like they did in 2006.

Is the rotation an unaddressed fatal flaw?

When the 2009 season began, there was very little doubt in anyone's mind that the Red Sox had both the depth and talent in the starting rotation for it to be considered, not only the teams' primary strength, but what made them favorites to advance to the World Series from the American League.

With dueling aces at the top in Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, depth in the middle with Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, and Brad Penny, and a plethora of options at the end ranging from top prospect Clay Buchholz to perennial All-Star and future Hall of Fame pitcher, John Smoltz, the front office had covered the rotation in spades. And that doesn't even look more deeply into the farm system or bullpen where the likes of Justin Masterson (since dealt away), Michael Bowden, and Junichi Tazawa lurked.

8/4: Battle of the Arms.

Lester faces off against the tough righty Matt Garza.

BOS 7, BAL 2: Homers keep Lester perfect against O’s

Jon Lester improved to 9-0 in his career against the Baltimore Orioles with the help of the long ball.

7/24: Welcome LaRoche!

Let's see if the Red Sox can put a win on the board for Jon Lester in Adam LaRoche's debut with the club.

TOR 3, BOS 1: Best wishes

If Roy Halladay gets traded he definitely left Toronto Blue Jays fans a splendid last impression.

7/19: Duel in the Dome

Today's game features one of the best pitching matchups of the season with Roy Halladay facing off against a rolling Jon Lester as the Sox aim to take the first series of the second half in Toronto. Could this be the last time the Sox face Halladay in a Blue Jays uniform?