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Tavarez, Red Sox take final postseason tuneup vs. Twins

Sep 30, 2007 - 2:10 PM Minnesota (78-83) at Boston (96-65) 2:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) - With everything settled, the Boston Red Sox can relax and get healthy.

Julian Tavarez will take the mound on Sunday when the Red Sox host the Minnesota Twins in the final regular season game for both teams.

Boston clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs when they posted a 6-4 victory on Saturday and the Cleveland Indians (95-66) fell, 4-3, to the Kansas City Royals.

After the game, Boston, which was given the choice between two separate playoff formats because they finished with the American League's best record, choose to start their playoff run on Wednesday, which gives them an extra day off between Game One and Two.

Curt Schilling, who was scheduled to start on Sunday, will instead rest up for a Game Two start, with Josh Beckett expected to get the call in the opener on Wednesday.

Tavarez (7-10, 5.06 ERA) will take Schilling's spot in the rotation. The veteran sinkerballer began the season in the Red Sox's rotation and has made spot starts and occasional relief appearances since the All-Star break, but has logged just 5 2/3 innings in September, making his inclusion on the postseason roster unlikely.

The Twins will counter with Matt Garza (4-7, 3.92). The 23-year-old righthander has struggled coming down the stretch, going 1-3 over his last five starts, allowing at least four runs in each of his losses.