After taking two-of-three in Chicago, the Boston Red Sox wrap up their 11-game sojourn through the AL Central starting tonight. They’ll face off with the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a four-game set at Historic Fenway Park.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Indians television market, you can watch the game on SportsTime Ohio (STO). If you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as well as ESPN will have national coverage of the game outside of the Red Sox and Indians television markets. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

John Lackey goes for his fifth straight win in as many starts in his 18th start of 2011. He’s received a decision in all 17 of his starts as he is 9-8 with a 6.20 ERA. He has not faced the Indians in 2011. He made one start against the Indians in 2010 (August 2nd) that came at Fenway Park and took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work. He’s made 15 career starts against Indians and is 6-7 with a 4.07 ERA.

Josh Tomlin makes his 22nd start of 2011 for the surprising Indians. In his previous 21 starts, Tomlin is 11-5 with a 4.01 ERA. He’s made one start against the Red Sox in 2011 picking up the win on April 5th. In that start, he allowed one run on three hits in seven innings of work. He’s made two career starts against the Red Sox and is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA. He took the loss in his lone start at Fenway Park last year after allowing four runs on four hits in seven innings of work.

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

Here are this evening’s lineups:

53-52		66-40
1. Michael Brantley	LF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Jason Kipnis	2B	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera	SS	3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
4. Travis Hafner	DH	4. Kevin Youkilis	3B
5. Carlos Santana	C	5. David Ortiz	DH
6. Kosuke Fukudome	RF	6. Carl Crawford	LF
7. Matt LaPorta	1B	7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
8. Lonnie Chisenhall	3B	8. Josh Reddick	RF
9. Ezequiel Carrera	CF	9. Marco Scutaro	SS
Josh Tomlin	SP	John Lackey	SP

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

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

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Terry Francona: No update on Clay Buchholz until tonight or tomorrow [Clubhouse Insider]

Erik Bedard to make Red Sox debut on Thursday, and other rotation notes [Clubhouse Insider]

Notes: Bedard to make Red Sox debut Thursday [CSNNE.com]

Video: What losing Buchholz could mean [ESPN Boston]

Report — Boston Red Sox’s Clay Buchholz has stress fracture [ESPN Boston]

Francona: No Buchholz update … yet [ESPN Boston]

Bedard to debut Thursday at Fenway [ESPN Boston]

Erik Bedard arrives tomorrow [Extra Bases]

How trades work in August [Extra Bases]

After seeing back specialist, Buchholz to talk to Sox staff [Extra Bases]

Bedard to start Thursday, Lester pushed back [Extra Bases]

Mike Salk on M&M: Erik Bedard in Boston ‘ultimate recipe for disaster’ [Full Count]

Red Sox notes: No update on Clay Buchholz, Erik Bedard to start Thursday [Full Count]

Terry Francona: Erik Bedard will get lots of support ‘regardless of how he throws’ [Full Count]

Heidi Watney Gets Authentic Chicago-Style Pizza From Gino’s East in Her Video Diary [NESN.com]

Sources: Erik Bedard to Make Red Sox Debut Thursday Night Against Indians [NESN.com]

Red Sox Map Out Temporary Six-Man Rotation, Will Monitor Erik Bedard’s Workload in Debut Thursday [NESN.com]

John Lackey Could Gain Motivation With Acquisition of Erik Bedard [NESN.com]

Theo Epstein, Clay Buchholz to Come Up With Plan of Action Regarding Injury, But Uncertainty Contributed to Erik Bedard Trade [NESN.com]

Red Sox Fly Through July With Dominant Showing in Historic Month for Club [NESN.com]

Video: Theo Epstein, Red Sox Show Win Now Attitude at Trade Deadline, But Still Keep Top Prospects in Organization [NESN.com]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Indians and Playoff Previews [Projo Sox Blog]

Bard’s streak keeps growing [Projo Sox Blog]

Bedard to debut Thursday [Projo Sox Blog]

Sox had a sweltering July [Projo Sox Blog]

Lackey looking to keep rolling against Tribe [RedSox.com]

Bard regularly shutting down opponents [RedSox.com]

Red Sox sign 10th rounder Cody Koback [SoxProspects.com]

Bedard an obvious gamble, Red Sox still team to beat [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Photo credits: AP Photo, Getty Images

Here’s the press release from UConn detailing the 2011-12 non-conference schedule for the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team:

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut basketball program has announced the 2011 non-conference schedule. The Huskies will play 10 non-conference games at home (Including two exhibitions) and four games on the road (Including three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas). Sites for home games (Gampel Pavilion or XL Center) and game times are still to be determined.

UConn will host a pair of teams that competed in the NIT last season (Harvard, Fairfield) and travel to face a Tennessee program that competed in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.

The Huskies will host two exhibition games beginning with Coach Jim Calhoun’s alma mater AIC (Nov. 2) followed by a preseason contest against C.W. Post (Nov. 6).

Connecticut begins the regular season with four straight home non-conference games beginning with Columbia on November 11. UConn will then host Wagner (Nov. 14), Maine (Nov. 17) and Coppin State (Nov. 20) before heading to the Battle 4 Atlantis.

The inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis runs from November 24-26. The Huskies will play three games. The tournament field includes Harvard, Florida State, Utah, UMass, Central Florida, College of Charleston and UNC-Asheville. Connecticut’s opponents and game times are still to be determined.

The Huskies will also compete in the annual BIG EAST/SEC Challenge. For the first time, the games will take place on campus sites with UConn hosting Arkansas on December 3. The Razorbacks finished 2010-11 with an 18-13 overall record.

Connecticut finishes the non-conference home slate against NIT participants Harvard (Dec.7), Holy Cross (Dec. 18) and NIT participants Fairfield (Dec. 22).

The Huskies close out the non-conference schedule on the road against Tennessee. The Volunteers advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season and finished with a 19-15 overall record. UConn hosted Tennessee in 2010-11 and came away with a 72-62 victory at the XL Center on January 22.

All times and locations will be determined at a later date.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

2011-12 Men’s Basketball New Season Ticket Purchases: BUY HERE

CONNECTICUT 2011-12 Men’s Basketball Schedule
Sites for home games (Gampel Pavilion or XL Center) to be determined in September

• Nov. 2 (exh.) AIC
• Nov. 6 (exh.) CW Post
• Nov. 11 Columbia
• Nov. 14 Wagner
• Nov. 17 Maine
• Nov. 20 Coppin State
• Nov. 24-26 Battle 4 Atlantis (Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas)
  UConn, Harvard, Florida State, Utah, Massachusetts,
  Central Florida, College of Charleston, UNC – Asheville
• Dec. 3 Arkansas (BIG EAST/SEC Challenge)
• Dec. 7 Harvard
• Dec. 18 Holy Cross
• Dec. 22 Fairfield
• Jan. 21 at Tennessee

BIG EAST Schedule (Dates to be announced in early September)

BIG EAST Home Games

• CINCINNATI
• DEPAUL
• MARQUETTE
• NOTRE DAME
• PITTSBURGH
• ST. JOHN’S
• SETON HALL
• SYRACUSE
• WEST VIRGINIA

BIG EAST Away Games

• at GEORGETOWN
• at LOUISVILLE
• at NOTRE DAME
• at PROVIDENCE
• at RUTGERS
• at SETON HALL
• at USF
• at SYRACUSE
• at VILLANOVA

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On a day where one eye was on the television and another watching the trade rumors fly on Twitter, the Boston Red Sox were on the field trying to take the rubber game against the Chicago White Sox. And thanks to yet another Alfredo Aceves great relief effort and a clutch hit from Dustin Pedroia, the Red Sox did exactly that in a 5-3 win.

With the uncertainty of the news about the health of Clay Buchholz and rumors out there the Red Sox were looking for a starting pitcher, Andrew Miller took to the mound possibly pitching for his spot in the Red Sox rotation and maybe even his roster spot. In his past few starts, he’s had some control issues. That wasn’t the case yesterday, instead it was the amount of hits he gave up.

Long after he had left the game, the Red Sox had acquired oft-injured starter Erik Bedard from the Seattle Mariners for a slew of prospects. But had Miller been able to get one more out, he would have had a quality start. Instead, he found himself out of the game with an eventual no decision after allowing three runs on 10 hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work.

While the walk number was encouraging, you have to wonder if it was enough for Miller to stay in the rotation. Obviously with the addition of Bedard, someone has to go from the Red Sox rotation. It won’t be Josh Beckett, Jon Lester or John Lackey but rather either Tim Wakefield or Miller. And with Terry Francona’s loyalty to veterans and the fact Wake has been pitching better lately, my guess is that Miller will be the odd man out.

Miller’s stuff right now would probably make him an effective weapon out of the bullpen. They do have two down there in Randy Williams and Franklin Morales but they aren’t people who Tito can rely on. Maybe Miller can earn the trust and be the go-to lefty in the pen. I’m sure we’ll learn more about what’s going happen either today or sometime during the week.

Sure Theo Epstein acquired Adrian Gonzalez and signed free agents Carl Crawford, Dan Wheeler and Bobby Jenks during the offseason. But hasn’t the acquisition of Aceves been his best one yet. I’m sure there’s an argument there that Gonzo is the best but if we went that route, I think you”ll agree with me that it’s been Aceves down in the pen.

Miller has made eight starts and Aceves has been there to help him out. Because of Pedroia’s clutch two-run single, Aceves was able to pick up his seventh win of the season and fourth in July. There had been some discussions between people on Twitter how the Red Sox didn’t need a starter and could just put Aceves back in the rotation.

I highly disagree with that thought as Aceves, at least right now, is suited best for the Red Sox bullpen. If it’s not for him, the Red Sox may not be in the position they are in in the AL East standings (two game lead over the Aceves’ former team the New York Yankees).

The Red Sox finished off a record month of July that saw them go 20-6. Now they’ll open up the home stretch with a four-game set against the Cleveland Indians who are 2.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

We’ll be back later today with this evening’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now, enjoy the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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

Going for it: Sox hope Bedard represents a finishing touch [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

In the end, it’s Red Sox [Boston Globe]

Save situation for Epstein [Boston Globe]

Throwing in their lot with Bedard [Boston Globe]

Andrew Miller knows future out of his control [Boston Herald]

Questions surround oft-injured Erik Bedard [Boston Herald]

Frank Thomas: David Ortiz an all-time best [Boston Herald]

Sox armed for run [Boston Herald]

Red Sox continue road dominance, 5-3 in Chicago [CSNNE.com]

Red Sox acquire left-hander Erik Bedard from M’s [CSNNE.com]

The road to Bedard was winding [CSNNE.com]

Notes: Miller mediocre at best in Sox win [CSNNE.com]

Buchholz has stress fracture, likely out for year [CSNNE.com]

Hot times for Sox in July [ESPN Boston]

Who was dealt away [ESPN Boston]

Monster month of mashing [ESPN Boston]

Evaluating the trade deadline moves [Extra Bases]

Lars Anderson on deal that wasn’t: ‘All fantasy’ [Full Count]

Closing Time: Red Sox close out best July in franchise history [Full Count]

Red Sox announce trade for Erik Bedard, Josh Fields [Full Count]

Theo Epstein: Erik Bedard ‘can go out and beat anybody’ [Full Count]

Red Sox beat the buzzer with Bedard deal [Full Count]

Video: Erik Bedard Trade Important Given Uncertainty of Clay Buchholz’s Injury, Should Strengthen Staff Overall If Buchholz Returns [NESN.com]

Ryan Lavarnway’s Progress Made it Easier to Part Ways With Tim Federowicz [NESN.com]

Video: Terry Francona Excited to Have Erik Bedard Join Rotation As Red Sox Complete 20-Win July [NESN.com]

Red Sox Are Better in End With Erik Bedard, As Lefty Has Enjoyed Recent Success, Knows Rigors of AL East [NESN.com]

Theo Epstein Concerned About Clay Buchholz’s Back, Thought Adding Starting Pitching Was a Must [NESN.com]

Video: Andrew Miller Battles Through Giving Up 10 Hits, Pleased Red Sox Able to Come Away With Win Over White Sox [NESN.com]

Miller battles his way to victory [Providence Journal]

Day after trade falls through, Lars Anderson right back where he started [Providence Journal]

Sox felt they needed a starter, and Bedard turns out to be their man [Providence Journal]

Red Sox month in review: Offense was hotter than the weather in July [Providence Journal]

Red Sox Journal: Boston hopes it can bring out the best in Bedard [Providence Journal]

Bedard an obvious gamble, Red Sox still team to beat [RedSox.com]

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England,  ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over the Chicago Daily Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Southtown or ESPN Chicago websites.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as some of the other sports. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

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

UConn Football links

DC answered a few questions in his mailbag [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Summer Kickoff Preview No. 11: A Last Look At 2010 [BigEast.org]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Napier makes first cut with Team USA [Neill Ostrout – CT Post]

Player Profile: Tyler Olander [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Shabazz Napier Named One of 14 Finalists For World University Games Team [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

U.S. wins U-19 championship [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Not a bad day for future Huskies [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Mosqueda-Lewis, Dolson Lead U.S. To U-19 Gold Medal [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Team USA Wins U19 World Championship [UConnHuskies.com]

Sun’s Moore playing through pain [Norwich Bulletin]

Other UConn related links

The “Joseph J. and Elizabeth A. Soltys Scholarship” Established [UConnHuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

In what’s turned out to be an interesting three-team trade between the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners, the one thing that’s consistently being reported is that the Red Sox are getting Erik Bedard from Seattle.

The trade breaks down like this:

• Red Sox get Bedard (Seattle), pitcher Josh Fields (Seattle)
• Mariners get OF Trayvon Robinson (Dodgers), Chih-Hsien Chiang (Red Sox)
• Dodgers get catcher Tim Federowicz (Red Sox), pitcher Stephen Fife (Red Sox), pitcher Juan Rodriguez (Red Sox)

As SoxProspects.com points out on Twitter, Chiang, Fife and Federowicz are all Rule 5 eligible after the season. That means the Red Sox would have had to place them on the 40-man roster or risk losing them in the Rule 5 draft. Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal also said on Twitter that the Red Sox must be happy with the defensive progress of catcher Ryan Lavarnway to trade Federowicz.

Obviously there’s the same injury concerns out there that the Red Sox had with Rich Harden with Bedard coming over. I’d have to say the Red Sox must not be too worried about it to make this deal.

Bedard just returned from the disabled list on Friday night and was shelled by the Tampa Bay Rays. In 1.1 innings, he allowed five runs on three hits with four walks. He made 16 starts for the Mariners this year and is 4-7 with a 3.45 ERA.

It’s going to be interesting to see what the Red Sox have in store with Andrew Miller know that Bedard is around. Miller received a no decision in his start today after allowing three runs on 10 hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings. The walk numbers are encouraging considering what’s happened in the past this season but is it enough.

I’m sure we’ll learn more after the Red Sox complete their game on Sunday afternoon against the Chicago White Sox.

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Photo credit: AP Photo