Dice-K, Playoffs, Play-In Game? Questions Loom for Sox.

After a disapointing 1-0 loss last night to the Lynchburg Hillcats at Lynchburg City Stadium the Salem Red Sox still can make the dramatic leap into the playoffs for this their first inaugural season. The Salem Sox with a win or Kinston loss tonight clinch a playoff berth. With a loss in Lynchburg coupled with an Indians win would send the Sox home for a play-in game against divisional foe Kinston Tuesday night. The Sox send righty Stephen Fife to the mound this afternoon against Matt McSwain, who in last appearance against Salem on Saturday pitched 1.0 disastrous inning of relief allowing 4 hits and two runs aiding Salem's comeback efforts.

Some interesting news broke on the web this morning involving former Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka. ESPN released a story this morning detailing a possible rehab start for Dice-K in either Salem or Greenville on Wednesday. For Matsuzaka to even have a chance to start for Salem the Sox would need to clinch this afternoon or win the play-in game against the K-Tribe on Tuesday. The wrinkle in a possible start for the Salem Sox in whether Boston needs Dice-K before Wednesday's proposed rehab start or not. Boston has scheduled Paul Byrd to start Wednesday, but he struggled physically in his last outing. Also the question must be raised as to whether he would make a start for the Salem Sox or Greenville Drive. The Drive will play on Wednesday at Asheville, while the Sox would play in Winston-Salem if they make the postseason. The Drive have already punched their ticket to the dance, but would the Red Sox rather have their starter make his rehab with the Advanced-A ballclub instead of the Low-A team? That is still to be determined.

Stay tuned for more Salem Red Sox news and notes and make sure you tune in to this afternoon's regular season finale! Go Sox!