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Red Sox setting up for postseason

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:12 AM NY Yankees (88-72) at Boston (94-66) 3:55 p.m. EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox are setting up for postseason glory.

With the Red Sox locked in as the American League wild-card representative and scheduled to begin the playoffs Wednesday at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, manager Terry Francona and company will spend the next two days against the New York Yankees resting players and prepping up for another run at the World Series.

Boston swept the Angels in the first round en route to World Series titles in both 2004 and 2007.

While this Red Sox-Yankees showdown lacks its usual sense of urgency, it's not without its merit for New York, which is evaluating its talent going into the offseason.

Rookies Cody Ransom and Brett Gardner led the charge on Friday as the Yankees captured the series opener, 19-8.

The Red Sox will get Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-2, 2.80 ERA) some work at the start on Saturday. The righthander was scratched due to the rainy conditions on Friday but has not lost since July 28 and is coming off a win at Toronto in which he allowed two hits in seven scoreless frames.

The Japanese star is unlikely to throw more than 85 pitches as Boston tries to keep him fresh for the playoffs.

Josh Beckett was originally scheduled to make the start, but with the playoffs beginning on Wednesday or Thursday and Beckett the likely Game One starter, the team is giving him some extra rest.

The Yankees will counter with veteran Sidney Ponson (8-5, 5.21). The portly righthander has been terrible, but will get another start because Andy Pettitte was shut down for the season with shoulder pain.

Ponson is 1-2 with an 11.37 ERA in his last five starts.