After throwing 25 pitches in a side session this afternoon, Tim Wakefield might be able to start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox. Right now, Junichi Tazawa is still listed as the probable Red Sox starter, but Wakefield could replace him.

"I think there is" a chance Wakefield will pitch, pitching coach John Farrell said. "Like anybody coming back from a physical ailment, we just want to be sure we evaluate him tomorrow after today's session, similar to what we did today. We want to be sure that after yesterday's long toss and more aggressive throwing he was capable of getting on the mound today, which he was."

Manager Terry Francona has spoken with Farrell and general manager Theo Epstein about a potential Wakefield start. It seems that if Wakefield can pitch, the Sox would prefer him over Tazawa.

The Sox will evaluate Wakefield tomorrow and "make sure he's not hurting," Francona said. "He's able to execute all of his pitches really well. That's not the issue. But if he shows up and he's limping more so than he was, that's probably not a real good situation to put him in."

Friday's starter is still Paul Byrd.