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Pedroia swinging big bat for Red Sox

Sep 1, 2008 - 1:51 PM Baltimore (63-73) at Boston (79-57) 7:05 pm. EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Dustin Pedroia is small in stature, but he has been coming up huge for the Boston Red Sox all season.

Pedroia looks to continue his hot hitting on Monday when the Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles.

Boston, which leads Minnesota by 2 1/2 games in the wild card race, went 18-9 in August thanks in large part to a scrappy second baseman that leads the American League with a .326 average.

Generously listed at 5-9, Pedroia may not look intimidating, but he is starting to strike fear in the hearts of pitchers everywhere. The reigning American League Rookie of the Year went 9-for-13 in help the Red Sox take two of three from the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, and leads baseball in hits and runs scored.

"I worry more about Pedroia than I do (David Ortiz) right now," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said after Saturday's 8-2 loss to Boston. "Right now I have to, he's swinging the bat good. He's a (heck) of a ballplayer and he shows up to beat you."

Pedroia should be licking his chops at the prospects of facing Garrett Olson (8-6, 6.38), who will be recalled from Class AAA Norfolk in time to start Monday's game. Olson went 0-1 with a 13.06 ERA in his last three starts before being optioned on August 21. He is 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA in five career starts against Boston.

Boston trails Tampa Bay (84-51) by 5 1/2 games in the American League East, but can gain a half-game with the Rays off on Monday.

Paul Byrd (9-11, 4.55 ERA) looks to win his third straight start. The righthander allowed two runs and five hits in six innings of an 11-3 win over New York on Wednesday.