Red Sox vs. Orioles (September 20, 2011)

Baltimore Orioles (63-90) at Red Sox (88-66)

SP - Erik Bedard (5-9, 3.50) vs. Rick VandenHurk (0-0, 6.00)

*** Red Sox Magic Number to Clinch a Playoff Spot - 8 ***

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Josh Reddick, RF
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Marco Scutaro, SS
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Mike Aviles, 3B

Three Strikes:

1. Clay Buchholz made more progress today, throwing a pain-free 32-pitch simulated inning.  If the Red Sox survive this late season collapse then Buchholz could join their bullpen in the playoffs.

Although they could obviously use him as a starter behind Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, a healthy Buchholz would be a help to a bullpen that is searching for consistency beyond Jonathan Papelbon and Alfredo Aceves (who I think should get the nod in Game 3 of the ALDS if the Red Sox make it that far - he might not be able to go longer than 80-85 pitches but that's a better situation than giving the ball to John Lackey).

You never know, a bullpen of Buchholz, Aceves (if he doesn't start), Daniel Bard (if he regains his form), and Papelbon could help the Sox make a surprising run in October.

2. I really hope that all of my faith in Carl Crawford starts to pay off, starting this week.  It's been written about countless times this year but Crawford has too much talent not to make an impact for the Red Sox.  If he could get it going now, his stuggles through the first 154 games would be forgotten.

3. PLAYOFF RACE: The Rays (2 games behind the Red Sox for the Wild Card) and Yankees (five games ahead of the Red Sox in the East) start a four-game series in the Bronx tonight with Wade Davis (10-9, 4.41) squaring off with Ivan Nova (15-4, 3.81).

As long as the Red Sox win, it doesn't matter who takes this game (yes, there is a remote chance that the Sox could take the division title) but I'll take a Yankees sweep in order to eliminate the Rays.