Timlin

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Red Sox have announced their roster for the ALCS against Tampa Bay and veteran Mike Timlin is basically exchanged for the injured Mike Lowell.

Timlin was not on the Sox’ roster for the ALDS against Anaheim. The Sox went with a 10-man pitching staff against the Angels, but because of the longer series and the fact that Tim Wakefield will probably start Game Four against the Rays and won’t be available out of the bullpen, the Sox have added the extra pitcher.

“In a potential seven-game series, you need to have the other pitcher,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “You can get yourself into a little bit of a bind if you don’t.”

Before the ALDS, Francona had the painstaking job of telling the veteran hurler that he would not be on the first-round roster.

“It is certainly a lot more fun to give somebody good news,” the manager said yesterday. “He’s very deserving and he’s been doing this for a long time. I don’t know how he will fit in, or where and when he’ll pitch. We certainly don’t know how the games are going to go before hand, but I know there was a comfort level putting him on the roster.”

Lowell was not eligible to be on the ALCS roster because he was taken off the ALDS roster because of injury. Gil Velasquez was the substitute for Lowell that time, but he will not be on the active roster for this series.

Timlin traveled with the Red Sox to Anaheim and has remained in playing shape. How he may be used in this series is unclear, but he’s well down on the bullpen depth chart behind Jonathan Papelbon, Justin Masterson, Hideki Okajima and Manny Delcarmen.

Joe McDonald contributed to this report.

kmcnamar@projo.com