Jon Lester (L), Alfredo Simon (R)

The Boston Red Sox face another must win situation tonight in the season finale with the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

If the Red Sox win and the Tampa Bay Rays lose, the Red Sox win the AL Wild Card. If they lose and Rays win, the Red Sox are going home for the offseason. However, if both teams win or both teams lose, then they’ll play a one-game playoff on Thursday at 4:07 p.m. at Tropicana Field.

Today’s first pitch for game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and can be seen on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Orioles television market, you can catch the game on MASN.  Depending on what part of the country you live in, you may also be able to catch the game on the ESPN. The game is also online at ESPN3.com where available. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Jon Lester will be called upon by Terry Francona to keep the Red Sox season alive in his 31st and most important start of 2011. In his previous 30 starts, Lester is 15-9 with a 3.49 ERA. His only start of 2011 against the Orioles came back on April 28th when he gave up two runs in eight innings of work. He’s made 17 career starts against the Birds and is 14-0 with a 2.33 ERA. Nine of those starts have come at Camden Yards where he is 7-0 with a 2.47 ERA.

Alfredo Simon will try and play spoiler in his 16th start (23rd appearance) in 2011. In his previous 22 appearances (15 starts), Simon is 4-9 with a 4.85 ERA. He’s made one start against the Red Sox this season and that came back on July 5th. He took the loss in that start after allowing three runs in 4.2 innings of work. Simon has made seven career appearances (one start) against the Red Sox and is 0-1 with a 5.59 ERA (6 ER/9.2 IP).

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the overnight and day if you’re on the home page.

Here are this evening’s lineups:

Boston Red Sox90-71 Baltimore Orioles68-93
1. Jacoby Ellsbury CF 1. Robert Andino 2B
2. Dustin Pedroia LF 2. J.J. Hardy SS
3. David Ortiz 2B 3. Nick Markakis RF
4. Adrian Gonzalez 1B 4. Vladimir Guerrero DH
5. Ryan Lavarnway C 5. Matt Wieters C
6. J.D. Drew RF 6. Adam Jones CF
7. Marco Scutaro SS 7. Mark Reynolds 1B
8. Carl Crawford LF 8. Chris Davis 3B
9. Mike Aviles
3B 9. Nolan Reimold LF
Jon Lester SP Alfredo Simon SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:

Boston Red Sox @ Baltimore Orioles batter/pitcher matchups

Notes: Clay Buchholz has been activated from the disabled list. Kevin Youkilis was placed on the 60-day disabled list to make room for Buchholz on the 40-man roster.

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Season now all for one [Boston Herald]

Who’s to blame? [Boston Herald]

Lavarnway is the right play [Chad Finn’s Touching All The Bases]

Francona: Red Sox, Rays race ‘good for baseball, not for my stomach’ [Clubhouse Insider]

For Red Sox, it’s all up to Jon Lester [Clubhouse Insider]

Ryan Lavarnway starting again for Red Sox in Game 162 [Clubhouse Insider]

Clay Buchholz available out of bullpen tonight for Red Sox [Clubhouse Insider]

Francona: ‘Writing on wall’ that Kevin Youkilis won’t play again in ‘11 [Clubhouse Insider]

Red Sox starter for tomorrow still ‘TBD’; Bruce Chen still with KC [Clubhouse Insider]

Red Sox soap opera continues for now [CSN New England]

Red Sox still looking for starting pitcher [CSN New England]

Papelbon: Only the strong will survive [CSN New England]

Wakefield wants to return to Red Sox in 2012 [CSN New England]

Notes: Sox abandon efforts to bring in pitcher [CSN New England]

Keeping Alfredo Aceves in Bullpen Rather Than Rotation in September Was Somewhat Confusing Decision [Don Orsillo – NESN.com]

Can Ted provide some positive energy? [ESPN Boston]

Kurkjian: Predicting the wild-card races [ESPN Boston]

Buchholz still in Baltimore with Red Sox [ESPN Boston]

Comes down to tonight for Sox … maybe [ESPN Boston]

Video: More pressure — Sox or Rays? [ESPN Boston]

Buchholz activated, available in ‘pen tonight [ESPN Boston]

Youkilis unlikely to play again in 2011 [ESPN Boston]

Crawford moved to 8th in order [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox put Kevin Youkilis on 60-day disabled list [ESPN Boston]

Yankees starting Betances (who?) vs. Rays [ESPN NY]

Might Clay Buchholz be in the mix? [Extra Bases]

What can be expected from Jon Lester tonight? [Extra Bases]

Report: Red Sox considering Bruce Chen [Extra Bases]

Buchholz activated [Extra Bases]

Bruce Chen still with Kansas City [Extra Bases]

Sean Casey on M&M: Terry Francona ‘has that calming presence’ [Full Count]

Red Sox travel plans are very much up in the air [Full Count]

Rays’ Uneven Play in September Shows Not All Comebacks Are Created Equal [NESN.com]

Should Ryan Lavarnway Make the Red Sox Postseason Roster If the Sox Make the Playoffs? [NESN.com]

Buck Showalter a Big Reason Why Orioles Are In Great Position to Play Spoiler to Red Sox [NESN.com]

Terry Francona’s Ability to Stick to His Ways As Red Sox Face Do-or-Die Situation an Admirable Trait [NESN.com]

Clay Buchholz Activated Prior to Regular-Season Finale in Baltimore, Could Be Factor If Red Sox Advance [NESN.com]

Kevin Youkilis Likely Out If Red Sox Advance to Postseason [NESN.com]

Video: Clay Buchholz Hoping to Make Impact Any Way He Can Upon Return to Red Sox [NESN.com]

Video: David Ortiz Stresses ‘One Game at a Time’ Mantra for Red Sox, Says Team Can’t Try to Do Too Much [NESN.com]

Red Sox Place Kevin Youkilis on 60-Day Disabled List Making Room for Clay Buchholz to Be Activated [NESN.com]

Reports: Buchholz could be activated Wednesday, Chen a target? [Projo Sox Blog]

Three days rest [Projo Sox Blog]

Donaldson: It’s a Boston thing [Projo Sox Blog]

Who is Ryan Lavarnway? [Projo Sox Blog]

Michael Bowden called Ryan Lavarnway’s shots — both of them [Projo Sox Blog]

Buchholz activated for finale [Projo Sox Blog]

Crawford back at the bottom of the lineup after all [Projo Sox Blog]

Gonzalez accustomed to late-season drama [Projo Sox Blog]

Youkilis’ season is over [Projo Sox Blog]

Don’t expect crisis to change Terry Francona’s managerial style [Providence Journal]

Season could rest on Lester’s arm [Providence Journal]

Season on line, Sox to turn Lester on short rest [RedSox.com]

With uncertainty in air, Sox ready for anything [RedSox.com]

Red Sox’ rollercoaster season fun to watch, even without watching [SI.com]

2011 Staff Season Wrap-Up, Part 1 [SoxProspects.com]

2011 Staff Season Wrap-Up, Part 2 [SoxProspects.com]

Red Sox fans should like their chances [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]

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Photo credits: Reuters Pictures, AP Photo