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Tavarez takes the hill for Red Sox in series finale

Aug 19, 2007 - 1:09 PM LA Angels (71-51) at Boston (74-49) 2:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox seem to be setting their rotation for a huge showdown with their division rival New York Yankees next week.

Julian Tavarez will take the mound for the Boston Red Sox when they take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the finale of a four-game set at Fenway Park.

After splitting a day-night doubleheader with the Angels on Friday, the Red Sox posted a 10-5 victory on Saturday night. David Ortiz blasted a mammoth grand slam to cap a six-run fifth inning to secure the victory.

With the win, Boston (73-49) remained five games behind the Yankees (67-54) in the American League East.

They will look to win the series behind Tavarez (6-8, 5.12 ERA), who will be making his first start since August 1. As a starter, Tavarez has allowed 11 runs and 25 hits in his last 13 2/3 innings.

Jon Lester was Sunday's scheduled starter, but he will start on Monday against Tampa Bay. That means that when the Red Sox face the Yankees in a three-game series starting August 28-30, the projected starters will be Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling.

Meanwhile, Anaheim is in a heated division battle of its own. They hold a two-game lead over Seattle in the AL West.

Joe Saunders (6-1, 3.50) takes the mound for the Angels. The lefthander had been unbeaten in his last eight starts before allowing four runs and eight hits in eight innings in a 4-1 loss to Toronto on Tuesday.