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Red Sox-Angels Preview

May 13, 2009 - 7:06 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Boston (21-12) at Los Angeles (16-15), 10:05 p.m. EDT

Kevin Youkilis can't help and Dustin Pedroia is banged-up, but the Boston Red Sox will need somebody to step up at the plate with the potential of another poor Tim Wakefield start looming against the Los Angeles Angels.

Youkilis is now on the disabled list, but Pedroia may return for the Red Sox after a one-game absence as Wakefield tries to avoid losing his sixth straight road game against the Angels on Wednesday night in the middle game of this series.

Youkilis, who has missed six games due to a strained oblique muscle on his left side, was placed on the 15-day DL on Tuesday after testing the injury prior to Boston's 4-3 win over Los Angeles (16-15). The first baseman is batting .393 with six home runs, 20 RBIs and a major league-best .505 on-base percentage.

"When it originally came out and we said day to day, I think we all really believed it," Red Sox manager Terry Francona told the team's official Web site. "It's been more of a week-to-week thing, so we'll see."

The Red Sox (21-12) struggled at the plate early Tuesday, scoring one run through seven innings as they played without Pedroia. The reigning American League MVP sat out due to a strained groin, but Francona said it was only a precaution and he'll likely be back in the lineup Wednesday.

Wakefield (4-1, 2.93 ERA) will probably need the help. He's lost five straight road starts against the Angels, posting an 8.53 ERA during that span. He pitched at Angel Stadium on April 10, yielding three runs and six hits while walking a season-high five in six innings of a 6-3 loss.

Wakefield is 9-13 with a 4.79 ERA in 24 starts and five relief appearances all-time against Los Angeles.

The veteran right-hander, though, has given up three runs or fewer in five of his six starts this season. Wakefield allowed two runs and four hits in six innings as Boston beat Cleveland 13-3 on Thursday night.

"I feel very confident. I've been getting deep into games," Wakefield said. "That's my job here as the fourth or fifth starter."

The Angels will counter with Matt Palmer (3-0, 3.06), who has conceded one run in each of his last two outings. The 30-year-old rookie right-hander allowed just two hits while striking out five in 5 1-3 innings as Los Angeles beat Kansas City 4-1 on Friday night.

This will be Palmer's first appearance against the Red Sox, who scored 29 runs in four games prior to Tuesday's contest, needing a late rally to win for the sixth time in eight games. Jason Varitek drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the ninth inning.

Varitek was able to take advantage of the Angels' struggling bullpen, and he's now batting .462 (6 for 13) in his last four games against Los Angeles.

Four Angels relievers combined to give up three runs in two innings following a strong start from Jered Weaver. Los Angeles' bullpen has been scored on in 20 of 29 appearances with five blown saves and a major league-worst 6.90 ERA, walking 49 in 90 innings.

"It kind of hurts a little bit because Jered pitched a heck of a game and he deserved to get a win out of it," setup man Scot Shields said. "It was just one of those nights we didn't get it done. I don't know if it's contagious right now, but we just aren't pitching up to our capabilities."