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Race Day: Looking at the A.L. Playoff Races

About the Wild Card Race

Boston: The Red Sox hit six home runs on Tuesday night, five among their first 16 batters. David Ortiz tied Frank Thomas’ record for career DH homers at 269. 2B Dustin Pedroia had his first multi-HR game. Eight of Boston’s nine starters in the lineup came out early. In the last 21 games, the Red Sox are averaging 6.4 runs. RHP Clay Buchholz (5-3) had his sixth quality start.

On Wednesday night, RHP Paul Byrd (1-1, 7.56) gets his third start since being signed. Last time out, he was knocked out in the third inning at Chicago after giving up seven earned runs and 10 hits. He’s 2-4 against Baltimore lifetime with a 4.30 ERA in seven starts. Only one Oriole managed two hits on Tuesday night: rookie C Matt Wieters (high school teammate of Justin Smoak). Wieters, in 71 games, is hitting .268. He has hits in 11 of his last 13 appearances. The Orioles will start RHP Jason Berken (4-11, 6.07). Since going from a four-seam fastball to a two-seamer three starts ago, he’s 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA.

Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, on the disabled list since late June with a bad shoulder, should get his last minor league rehab start on Wednesday. Manager Terry Francona said his goal is for Matsuzaka (eight starts, 1-5, 8.23 ERA) to be ready for Boston’s Sept. 15 against the Angels.

About the AL West Race

Los Angeles: LHP Brian Fuentes was booed off the mound in Anaheim on Tuesday night when pulled in the ninth inning after suffering his sixth blown save, allowing a tying home run to Mariners DH Mike Sweeney. But Angels SS Erich Aybar bailed him out with an RBI single in the 10th. Angels LHP Scott Kazmir has 13 innings pitched as an Angel, all against Seattle, allowing two earned runs on six hits with a loss and a no decision. Mariners RF Ichiro was held hitless for only the 12th time this season, going 0-for-5 for the second time.

Angels RHP Jered Weaver (14-5, 3.79), who will start Wednesday night, already has his career high in wins. In three of his last four starters, he has allowed no more than one earned run. Against Seattle this season, Weaver has allowed four earned runs in 12 innings and has split two decisions. He’ll go against RHP Ian Snell (6-9, 5.21), acquired in early August from Pittsburgh. Snell, who made his A.L. debut in Arlington, has won his last four starts. He’s coming off a win over Oakland in which he gave up two earned runs in five innings.

DH Ken Griffey Jr., who usually hits against righty starters, should be back in the lineup after battling a hurt left knee. He pinch hit on Tuesday night and is 0-for-11 since Aug. 24, dropping his batting average to .217.

If The Playoffs Started Today

Detroit @New York; Boston @Los Angeles