Erik Bedard

With their wild card lead gone, the Red Sox send Erik Bedard to the mound Tuesday night at Camden Yards with the hope that the left-hander can give Boston a much-needed win against the Orioles. Baltimore will start rookie Zach Britton, who the Red Sox pounded for eight runs back in July. In the second most important game of the night, the Rays are starting red-hot rookie Jeremy Hellickson against the Yankees’ Bartolo Colon in Tampa Bay.

Bedard (1-2, 3.63 ERA) lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his last start on Sept. 20, which was also against the Orioles, when he was returning from injuries to his lat and knee. It was Bedard’s first start since Sept. 3.

Boston will need Bedard to last longer in this start as the Red Sox’ bullpen is still recovering from a 14-inning win over the Yankees Sunday night. Bedard has not lasted more than six innings in any of his starts since being traded to Boston on July 31.

In two starts against Baltimore this season, Bedard has given up six runs (three earned) in nine innings. Vladimir Guerrero has a home run and three RBIs off Bedard in his career, while Matt Wieters has one home run in nine career plate appearances against the Boston starter.

Britton (11-10, 4.44 ERA) has had an up and down rookie season in which he has looked brilliant in one start and awful in the next. On Sept. 17, Britton held the Angels to one run in seven innings while striking out seven. But in his next start on Sept. 22 against the Tigers, Britton gave up five runs in five innings while walking four.

In his first start against Boston back on April 26, Britton gave up one run in six innings in a 4-1 Baltimore win. But his next start against the Red Sox on July 8, Britton was pulled after just 2/3 of an inning when he gave up eight runs (seven earned).

Red Sox vs. Britton

Conor Jackson (six career plate appearances): 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 3 walks

Jacoby Ellsbury (5): 2-for-5, 1 double, 1 RBI

Adrian Gonzalez (4): 0-for-3, 1 walk

David Ortiz (4): 2-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 walk

Dustin Pedroia (4): 2-for-3, 1 walk

Kevin Youkilis (4): 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, 1 strikeout

Mike Aviles (3): 1-for-3, 1 double

Carl Crawford (3): 0-for-3, 1 strikeout

J.D. Drew (3): 1-for-3

Jed Lowrie (3): 0-for-3

Jason Varitek (3): 1-for-2, 1 walk

Darnell McDonald (1): 1-for-1, 1 double, 2 RBIs

Marco Scutaro (1): 1-for-1

Lars Anderson, Joey Gathright, Jose Iglesias, Ryan Lavarnway, Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia have not faced Britton.

Orioles vs. Bedard

Vladimir Guerrero (20 plate appearances): .333 BA/.400 OBP/.556 SLG, 1 double, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

Adam Jones (10): .556 BA/.600 OBP/.667 SLG, 1 double, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Nick Markakis (10): .375 BA/.500 OBP/.500 SLG, 1 double, 1 RBI 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Matt Wieters (9): 2-for-7, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

Nolan Reimold (8): 1-for-6, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

Mark Reynolds (8): 2-for-8, 2 RBIs, 3 strikeouts

Robert Andino (6): 1-for-5, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Chris Davis (4): 0-for-4, 3 strikeouts

J.J. Hardy (4): 0-for-4, 1 strikeout

Ryan Adams, Matt Angle, Josh Bell, Pedro Florimon, Jake Fox, Kyle Hudson and Craig Tatum have not faced Bedard.