BOSTON — Both Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis have had monster years for the Red Sox.

Now with the club heading to the postseason for the fifth time in the last six years, this is a great weekend — the final one of the regular season — to discuss who will ultimately be the team’s MVP.

Because the focus remains on repeating as World Series champions, Sox players and personnel don’t want to talk about individual accolades until the season ends. Very quietly in the Red Sox’ clubhouse yesterday afternoon, many players were asked their choice for team MVP.

One player said his guess would be that Pedroia would get 80-85 percent of the votes amongst teammates. Many others said it is a very close call. A few others said they should be “co-MVPs.”

Over the last month and a half, Red Sox fans have made their choice known with the chants of “MVP. . . MVP. . . MVP” every time Pedroia steps into the batter’s box. Earlier in the season Youkilis deserved to hear those chants, too.

A fair way to come to a final decision is to ask how the Red Sox would do if they lost either one from the lineup.

Pedroia has played in 156 games this season. Youkilis has played 143. As of last night, Pedroia leads the American League with 118 runs, 54 doubles, 211 hits and 60 multi-hit games. He’s second, but oh so close to the top spot, with a .325 average behind the Twins’ Joe Mauer’s .327 mark.

Pedroia has hit mostly in the No. 2 spot in the order for most of the season and has 82 RBI. If he hit lower in the order, obviously that number would be higher. Youkilis has 113 RBI and has hit in almost every spot in the order.

He’s among the league leaders in average (.314), doubles (43), on-base percentage (.390), RBI (113) and slugging percentage (.561). He also has a .372 average with runners in scoring position, which is third-best in the A.L.

Last night’s game was a perfect example of how the season has gone for both players.

Pedroia, hitting in the three hole went 1-for-3, including an infield single and produced a run with a sacrifice fly. Youkilis, hitting cleanup, went 2-for-3 with a RBI single and a solo home run, his 28th of the season.

It’s not always about the numbers.

There’s no doubting the effort both give on a daily basis. Both are intense competitors and both play superb defense. Youkilis won a Gold Glove in 2007 and is versatile to play both corner positions. That became especially important this summer with Sox veteran third baseman Mike Lowell battling hip and oblique problems.

Pedroia has played in every game this season except for three. He sparks the team offensively and defensively and brings an element of leadership in the clubhouse in only his second big-league season.

Pedroia and Youkilis aren’t the only ones who have been major components for the Red Sox in 2008.

How about Jon Lester?

The southpaw became the ace of the staff this year and with last night’s victory over the Indians, he’s 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 33 starts. He threw a no-hitter against the Royals on May 19 and has been stellar at home with a 11-1 record at Fenway. What makes his season that much more impressive is the fact Josh Beckett has battled elbow and back problems for a good portion of the season.

Plus, anytime the Red Sox needed a pitcher to come up in a key spot, Lester became the club’s stopper time and again.

Even though most Red Sox players said it’s a close call for MVP, when pressed further and asked whether they had to choose one or the other, “Pedey” was usually the final answer.

At this point of the season, however, every player in the clubhouse said it’s more important that the club reached the postseason. Still, if you take Pedroia out of the lineup, the Red Sox wouldn’t have had the kind of success they have had this season.

The Red Sox conclude the 2008 regular season against the Yankees this weekend at Fenway Park in preparation for the postseason. When it’s all said and done, and the team is able to look back on the year, Pedroia would have to be the favorite for team MVP, especially since he’s a strong candidate for the league’s MVP.

jmcdonal@projo.com