Game Preview: Angels at Sox GM 2

Garland (2-2, 4.81) vs. Lester (1-2, 5.06)
Game 2 of 3
705 Fenway Park

Daisuke Matsuzaka won't start due to the flu

For the second straight night the Red Sox starter has been scratched from the lineup just hours before his scheduled start.

Last night Josh Beckett had to bow out when a neck spasm flared up unexpectedly. Tonight the situation isn't as dire, but does put the Sox in a bind regarding the rotation for the next few games.

On top of that item Francona got word earlier that Kevin Youkilis, one of the league's hottest hitters, will not be in the lineup because of a sore back that he incurred while making a play at third base in last night's 7=6 Boston win.

Ay yay yay!

The flu that is going around the Boston clubhouse had claimed numerous players and personnel, with captain Jason Varitek set to miss his third consecutive game because of it. Now Dice-K, the American League co-leader in wins (4), and 2nd in strikeouts (28) will have to miss his 5th start, and that puts Terry Francona in a tough spot regarding the rotation.

For tonight Jon lester will move up a day and get the start against Anaheim's Jon Garland, and Beckett is scheduled to start Sunday down here against Tampa. But who gets the nod tomorrow and Friday has yet to be determined.

Francona could move Tim Wakefield from Friday to Thursday, but he absolutely slaughteres the Rays at the Trop, so that option seems highly unlikely.

The more likely scenario, according to the Globe, would be bringing up recently demoted reliever Kyle Snyder for a spot start, or double promoting AA prospect Justin Masterson for a one game audition.

Either way the situation around the Fens is not so hot right now, 6-game win streak or not.

You've got Tek, Delcarmen and Dice-K ailing, Youk, Coco and Beckett stiff, Lowell and Cora on the DL and no starter for tomorrow night.

No worries, though, as we know whoever is in that lineup will do everything in their power to keep the winning streak going.

Even if it means staging another dramatic, late inning comeback.

NOTES:
-Happy Birtday, Tito: Francona celebrated his 49th birthday yesterday, and his club gave him the only present a major league manager could ever ask for- a win!

-No sophomore slump: Don't look now, but the Little Big Man, Dustin Pedroia, has climbed all the way to the top of the American League in batting (.364), thanks to an 11-game hitting streak in which he is hitting a scalding .477 (21-44) with 9 doubles, 11 RBI and 10 runs scored.

-Ex-Sox shortstops: there's an intriguing and enlightening article about former Sox shortstops Edgar Rentaria and Orlando Cabrera on ESPN.com today. It seems that the products of soccer-crazed Colombia have less than an amicable relationship, for reasons rooted in national pride and bitter jealousy. It's a good read for Sox fans especially.