Tim Wakefield

With continued injuries at the back of the Red Sox rotation, Terry Francona will look to veteran Tim Wakefield to make his third start of the season Wednesday afternoon (1:35). The White Sox will counter with Gavin Floyd, whose start was pushed back a day to pitch the series finale at Fenway Park.

Wakefield (2-1, 4.14 ERA) has performed admirably in his only two starts this season, both of which have been in the last 10 days. He got the win last Friday against the Tigers after allowing just two runs on five hits through seven innings. On May 22 against the Cubs, Wakefield surrendered one run over 6 2/3 innings, earning a 5-1 victory. The 44-year-old came out of the bullpen for his first 11 appearances of the season but struggled with a 5.40 ERA. As a starter in 2011, Wakefield’s ERA is 2.04.

The knuckleballer has seen plenty of the White Sox in his 18-year career, and four Chicago hitters have faced Wakefield over 30 times. Veteran Omar Vizquel has fared quite well in 63 plate appearances against the Red Sox starter, hitting .328 with four doubles and seven RBI. Alex Rios and Paul Konerko have good power numbers vs. Wakefield, with three home runs apiece. Konerko has knocked in 10 runs, while Rios has driven in five.

A.J. Pierzynski is the fourth Chicago regular with 30-plus plate appearances against the righty, hitting .290 with a homer and four RBI.

Floyd (5-5, 3.69 ERA) has plenty of major league experience as well, as this will be the 134th start of his seven-year career. Floyd has yet to lose a game against the Red Sox, going 4-0 with a 3.53 ERA. He has given up 14 runs in 35 2/3 innings and has allowed six home runs against Boston. The Red Sox are hitting just .190 against the right-hander.

Floyd started the season with three wins in his first four starts but has struggled with his consistency as of late. In his last appearance, Floyd pitched out of the bullpen in the 14th inning vs. the Blue Jays and got the loss as he gave up a walk-off home run to Corey Patterson. He pitched well in his last start, allowing just one earned run against the Rangers through seven strong innings. However, a lack of run support forced him to take the 2-1 loss.

Right fielder J.D. Drew has had the most plate appearances of any Red Sox hitter against Floyd, but he has not had a great deal of success. Drew has just two hits in 18 plate appearances, and has struck out seven times.

David Ortiz has had the best track record against Floyd, going 5-for-17 with two solo home runs. Still, Ortiz has struck out a team-high eight times against the White Sox starter. Carl Crawford has only two hits in 12 plate appearances vs. Floyd, but both hits have been homers.

WHITE SOX VS. WAKEFIELD

Omar Vizquel (63 plate appearances): .328 BA/.349 OBP/.393 SLG, 4 doubles 7 RBI, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts

Alex Rios (53): .216/.245/.451, 3 home runs, 5 RBI, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts

Paul Konerko (44): .243/.341/.568, 3 home runs, 10 RBI, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts

A.J. Pierzynski (35): .290/.353/.452, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Carlos Quentin (9): .444/.444/.556, 1 double

Alexei Ramirez (9): .111/.111/.111, 1 strikeout

Juan Pierre (7): 3-for-6, 1 walk

Gordon Beckham (4): 1-for-4, 1 strikeout

Ramon Castro (3): 1-for-3, 1 home run, 1 RBI

Adam Dunn (3): 1-for-2, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 walk

Brent Morel is 1-for-1 vs. Wakefield.

No other White Sox hitter has faced Wakefield.

RED SOX VS. FLOYD

J.D. Drew (18 plate appearances): .143 BA/.333 OBP/.500 SLG, 1 home run, 4 RBIs, 7 strikeouts

David Ortiz (17): .294/.294/.647, 2 home runs, 8 strikeouts

Dustin Pedroia (14): .214/.214/.286, 1 double

Jacoby Ellsbury (13): .182/.308/.273, 1 double, 1 RBI

Carl Crawford (12): .222/.333/.889, 2 home runs, 3 RBI

Kevin Youkilis (8): .250/.250/.625, 1 home run, 3 RBI

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (5): .000/.000/.000, 1 strikeout

Jed Lowrie (4) and Jason Varitek (2) have no hits off Floyd.

Mike Cameron, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Reddick and Drew Sutton have never faced the White Sox starter.