Magic number 4 for playoffs.

Byline: Bill Ballou

COLUMN: RED SOX NOTES

TORONTO - The Red Sox's magic number, the way manager Terry Francona looks at it, is four.

That's the combined number of Boston wins and Detroit losses the Sox need to clinch a playoff berth as the wild-card team, with both the Tigers and Sox losing last night. Winning the AL East title for the first time since 1995? That would be nice, but not imperative.

"It means something in terms of what we set out to accomplish," Francona said of Boston finishing in first place, "but it means nothing in terms of the World Series."

Which is why the Sox already are setting up their starting rotation for the playoffs, and why they are being so careful in giving injured, and tired, players days off, and why they used Eric Gagne in a save situation last night, and left him in when he got into trouble.

Boston is almost looking at these games as spring training.

Winning a divisional title has not meant much recently when it came time to postseason play. The White Sox and Cardinals won the last two World Series last year after capturing division titles, but the three world champions before that all were wild-card teams, including Boston in 2004.

Francona said that he was actually relieved when the Sox were eliminated from the AL East title chase in 2004 because it let them concentrate on getting their pitching set for the Division Series. The next year, the race for first with the Yankees went down to the final weekend of the season, and that didn't turn out well.

"In '05," Francona said, "it came down to the last days with us not knowing, then we got into the playoffs and got knocked around."

If Boston were to finish with the best record in baseball, which would mean an AL East title as well, it would be guaranteed of home-field advantage throughout the postseason, which is nice to have, but not essential.

Dice-K on Saturday

Francona misspoke after Monday night's game when asked about the starting rotation for Tampa Bay. Daisuke Matsuzaka will start on Saturday and Tim Wakefield on Sunday, not Curt Schilling and Matsuzaka, in that order, as he originally said.

Schilling will throw on the side on Sunday and start versus Oakland on Tuesday at Fenway Park, according to current plans.

Matsuzaka will be working on seven days' rest in his next start, Schilling on eight days' rest in his next start.

Three added to fall roster

Catcher Dusty Brown, reliever Craig Hansen and first baseman-outfielder Chris Carter have been added to the roster of the Mesa Solar Sox, Boston's affiliate in the Arizona Fall League. Pitchers Daniel Haigwood, Hunter Jones and Jose Vaquedano, as well as infielder Jed Lowrie, were placed previously on the Solar Sox roster.

Final game vs. Jays

The Red Sox and Blue Jays play each other for the last time in 2007 here tonight. Clay Buchholz will make his third start in the majors, and first since his no-hitter on Sept. 1. Buchholz (3-0) has two wins in two games as a starter, and one win in one appearance in relief.

Overall, Buchholz has a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings with 17 strikeouts and only nine hits allowed. Including his relief appearance, he has pitched 12 straight shutout innings.

Jesse Litsch (5-9) will start for Toronto.

Manny still hurting

Manny Ramirez (left oblique) and Kevin Youkilis (sore right wrist) remain sidelined. Coco Crisp, who has a sore back, got the night off, with Jacoby Ellsbury moving to center field and Brandon Moss playing left, giving the Sox three rookies in the starting lineup.

Ramirez actually is not any closer to returning, Francona said. The left fielder still has discomfort when he runs and still, in general, can "feel it." Ramirez is one of five nominees, despite his offseason, for the American League Hank Aaron Award as the best offensive player in the league.

Youkilis played a little catch before the game and is improving, although he still has some discomfort.

Diamond Dust

Mike Lowell was 1 for 3 to extend his hitting streak to six games. He is 12 for 24 (.500) during the streak. ... David Ortiz struck out three times and has fanned seven times in the last three games. He had struck out just seven times in the previous 25 games before this slump.

NAME: BOSTON RED SOX

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Red Sox pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka, at left in a Teletubby costume, and Hideki Okajima, at right in pirate costume, are seen after Sunday's game at Fenway Park before leaving for Toronto. The team was having fun with the rookies, dressing them in outlandish costumes to be worn on the flight.

PHOTOG: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS