Because they traded Gabbard the other day in the Gagne deal, the Red Sox are forced to start Julian Tavarez tonight. The guy's a decent reliever but he was shelled in his last three starts. He's going right back to the pen when Shilling comes off the DL so these opportunities aren't going to last. In addition, the Red Sox are going up against Jeremy Guthrie on Thursday, he of the 2.89 ERA and the guy who shut down the Yankees TWICE.The Red Sox, who have lost to him earlier in the season, counter with Wakefield.

Why bring this up? Well, looking at the match-ups on paper, it wouldn't unimaginable that the Red Sox lose both those games. Now, and dream with me here, if the Yankees can win the next two against White Sox (certainly not a given) and Boston's games go the right way, the Yanks would be 5 games out with 54 games to go (and with 6 games left against Boston). I might be dreaming...but that wouldn't be too bad of a situation to be in.