The Red Sox have placed reserve 1B Sean Casey on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hip flexor. Casey has played in 17 games this season for the Red Sox and he is 18 for 52 (.346 avg, .886 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 8 RBIs. Casey did a good job essentially filling in for Mike Lowell while he was injured. Lowell is back in the starting lineup tonight for the Red Sox. The Red Sox have recalled outfielder Brandon Moss to replace Casey on the roster. Moss has played in 24 games in AAA ball this season and he is 22 for 82 (.268 avg, .764 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 1 homer, 12 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Moss played in both games in the opening series of the season in Japan for the Red Sox and he was 2 for 8 (.250 avg, .875 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs.

The Red Sox have released veteran reliever Dan Kolb. Kolb pitched in 9 games in AAA ball this season and he was 0-0 with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. Kolb probably wasn’t going to get a chance in Boston so the Red Sox essentially did Kolb a favor. Maybe he’ll hook on with a new team.

For anyone who thought he was a fluke last season, Dustin Pedroia is proving you wrong. He has played in 24 games for the Red Sox this year and he is 34 for 97 (.351 avg, .853 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 1 homer, 13 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Pedroia is not only a pest at the top of the lineup for the Red Sox but he is also one of the better defensive second basemen in the American League. Look for Pedroia to really start scoring a lot of runs when David Ortiz starts to hit and Mike Lowell returns from injury.

Bobby Kielty will miss the next 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery on one of his hands. Kielty was playing in AAA trying to work his way back to Boston. Kielty has played in 12 AAA games this season and he is 7 for 34 (.206 avg, .875 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 homers and 9 RBIs. The Red Sox might need Kielty at some point in the 2008 season.

The Red Sox didn’t trade for Johan Santana because they didn’t want to part with either Buchholz or Lester so these guys need to step up. Buchholz raised expectations last season when he threw a no-hitter in his 2nd major league start last season. But, he’s off to a rough start this season. Buchholz has started 3 games this year and he is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP and they just won’t get it done. John Lester has started 5 games this season and he is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. If Lester could tighten up his control he would probably be fine. He has walked 17 batters already in 26.2 innings. The Red Sox don’t have a lot of depth in the organization starting pitcher wise so the Red Sox need Buchholz & Lester to step up.