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Red Sox maintain push for division title

Sep 25, 2007 - 1:32 PM Oakland (75-82) at Boston (92-64) 7:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox already know that they have clinched a playoff spot. However, they don't know if they will enter the postseason as the American League East Division champions or as a wild card.

The Red Sox look to move closer to their first division title in over a decade Tuesday when they host the Oakland Athletics.

Boston owns a two-game lead over the New York Yankees (90-66) in the AL East. But the Red Sox, who have not won the division since 1995, have limped to the finish line a bit this season, going 12-13 since August 27.

One of the primary reasons for Boston's struggles has been the absence of Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramirez, both of whom have been sidelined with injuries.

Youkilis has missed the last eight games after being plunked on the right wrist by Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees on September 15. Meanwhile, Ramirez is recovering from a strained oblique which has kept him out since August 28.

Curt Schilling (8-8, 3.97 ERA) will try to give the Red Sox some breathing room atop the AL East when he takes the mound on Tuesday.

Schilling allowed four runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings in his last start against the Yankees. The 40-year-old righthander suffered his third consecutive loss, as New York edged Boston, 4-3, on September 16.

Oakland counters with Chad Gaudin (11-12, 4.52), who surrendered eight runs - three earned - and eight hits in just four innings during his start last Tuesday. The 24-year-old righthander took his third loss in his last four starts as the A's dropped an 8-7 decision to the Seattle Mariners.

Gaudin went 8-3 with a 2.88 ERA in the first half of the season but has fallen apart since the All-Star break, posting a 3-9 record with an 6.91 ERA in 14 starts.