BOSTON –– Red Sox manager Terry Francona is not a big fan of interleague play.

Nevertheless, Boston will play its next 15 games against National League opponents –– Reds, Phillies, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Astros –– and even though the Red Sox have had tremendous success against N.L. teams, the manager would be would be happy if they didn’t have to play them.

Earlier this season, the Sox swept a three-game series against the Brewers at Fenway Park, but the next two series will be played in N.L. cities. Boston has dominated the N.L. teams, compiling a 31-8 record since 2006.

Francona’s still not convinced.

“It’s not set up fair,” he said. “You set your team up to play American League-style baseball and then you go play National League-style; you just do the best you can. We’re going to be asking pitchers to bunt and things they have not been asked to do. But, we’ve handled it for the most part and we’ll try to handle it again.”

The only time Francona would probably prefer to play an N.L. team would be in October because that would mean another trip to the World Series. The Sox swept the Cardinals in 2004 and the Rockies in 2007.

Francona will get something out of this next trip, though.

“I’ve never been to this new ballpark in Cincinnati, so I’m looking forward to that,” he said. “I don’t understand a lot of it. I understand it’s hard, but because the wild card is so important, the imbalance of the schedule seems [unfair]. We’re playing four teams from the Central, one from the East and one from the West. I don’t understand that.”

Sox need Ramirez’s bat

The Red Sox are hoping Manny Ramirez’s ailing hamstring takes a turn for the better in the next 24 hours. Boston will play the National League’s Reds and Phillies in its next two series. If Ramirez can’t play left field because of his hamstring, then the Red Sox won’t have his bat in the lineup because there’s no DH.

Francona said he’ll wait until today to make a decision, but hopes Ramirez will be ready to go.

“I hope so,” said Francona. “He understands and he’s trying. If not, we lose his bat, which we really don’t want to do. The other thing we don’t want to do is hurt him. Sometimes having good common sense isn’t easy to do. We’ll try to do what’s right.”

Francona then said he hopes Ramirez walks into his office tomorrow and says “I feel good.”

Casey at the bat

Whether Ramirez plays remains to be seen, but Francona has already decided Sean Casey will be in the starting lineup tonight in Cincinnati. The Sox’ backup first baseman played eight seasons for the Reds from 1998 to 2005.

Because Casey is regarded as one of the nicest guys in baseball, and a fan favorite no matter where he plays, Francona is doing the respectful thing by giving Casey the start tonight in The Queen City.

“I am really excited,” said Casey. “I spent eight years there and that’s a long time, especially in baseball life nowadays. I actually thought I might spend my entire career there. I’m really excited. I really think I made a connection with the fans and the city. It was a great marriage and I had some great years there.”

Casey represented the Reds in a couple of All-Star Games and helped open up the new stadium in 2003. In 1999, the Reds won 96 games

“We all felt like we revitalized baseball there,” Casey said. “It was some great times.”

Casey feels he’s already made a connection with the fans in Boston, too.

“This has lived up to every expectation,” he said. “I don’t think you can really appreciate it until you’re here.”

Francona said yesterday afternoon he realizes first baseman Kevin Youkilis is a Cincinnati native, too, but the manager spoke with him about the situation.

Around the bases

Julio Lugo’s run-scoring double in the second inning was his first RBI since May 22, a span covering 16 games. That matched the longest RBI drought of his career, last recorded from Aug. 22-Sept. 14 2006 when Lugo was with the Los Angeles Dodgers… Youkilis belted his 10th homer of the season, his first since May 18, covering 18 games. … Reliever Manny Delcarmen, who contributed a scoreless eighth inning, has 8 1/3 scoreless innings over his last seven games. In his last 13 games, Delcarmen has a 1.17 ERA. He’s also retired eight of the last nine first batters he faced.

smcadam@projo.com, jmcdonal@projo.com