Must-Win Monday

I think tonight is the first must-win game of the year for the Red Sox. It almost seems ridiculous to be looking up at the Rays in first place in August, but Tampa Bay currently holds a four-and-a-half game lead over Boston, with the fading Yankees eight-and-a-half games back.

Today is a must for a couple of reasons. First, the Rays are off tonight and this will be a good chance for the Sox to gain some ground on the idle upstarts, who are heading to Oakland to beat up on Billy Beane's Little Leaguers this week. A loss would set them five back, which is an uncomfortable deficit with only 44 left to play.

The good news is the Red Sox will be hosting the Texas Rangers for three, with the back end of the Texas rotation in line for a good old-fashioned Boston beat-down. Meanwhile, the Yankees will have to deal with the Twins, who are just half a game out of first place in the Central. On paper (and, yes, "on paper" means nothing), the Sox should put more distance between themselves and New York and should keep pace with the Rays heading into the weekend.

Josh Beckett goes tonight against Jon Danks, who has been mediocre since the break and awful against the Sox in the past year. A win tonight could start a nice little run for Boston,  even though tomorrow's fill-in starter has yet to be announced. For those who missed it, Tim Wakefield is on the Disabled List and will sit for two starts due to some shoulder tightness. Just as well, anyway. I'd hate to see Josh Hamilton tee-off on a hanger from Wake.