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Red Sox to give Bowden chance vs. White Sox

Aug 30, 2008 - 10:15 AM Chi White Sox (76-58) at Boston (78-56) 7:05 p.m. EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- With all the attention paid lately to their myriad of injuries, the play of some of the Boston Red Sox's young players has flown largely under the radar. They will give another top prospect the chance to steal the headlines on Saturday when Michael Bowden makes his major league debut against the Chicago White Sox.

The Red Sox placed ace Josh Beckett and first baseman Sean Casey on the disabled list on Friday, adding to an injured list that also includes All-Star J.D. Drew, shortstop Julio Lugo and third baseman Mike Lowell.

Despite the injuries, Boston has won 11 of its last 16 games and owns a 2 1/2-game lead in the American League wild-card race over the Minnesota Twins (76-59).

Rookie Jed Lowrie has made a strong contribution bouncing between third and shortstop in place of Lowell and Lugo, while youngster Dustin Pedroia is making a run at the AL batting title and rookies Justin Masterson and Jacoby Ellsbury continue to provide support.

Bowden, a supplemental first-round pick in the 2005 draft, will get the next chance to prove his worth. Boston became the first team in the history of the draft earlier in this year to have its top four selections reach the majors within three years, and Bowden will join Ellsbury, reliever Craig Hansen, Lowrie and righthander Clay Buchholz as the fifth member of that vaunted group.

The 21-year-old Bowden went 9-7 with a 2.62 ERA at two minor league levels with 130 strikeouts and 29 walks in 144 1/3 innings.

The White Sox will send veteran Mark Buehrle (11-10, 3.86) to the hill. The lefthander is 3-0 in his last four starts, including a win against the Red Sox on August 8 in which he surrendered one run and four hits in seven innings while striking out eight.

The teams split a four-game series in Chicago from August 8-11.