Schilling

TORONTO — The Red Sox’ lead in the American League East hasn’t been this slim since the spring, but that hasn’t stopped the team from beginning to set up its pitching rotation for the postseason.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, whose turn would have come tonight, is being passed over for Clay Buchholz, a move that will simultaneously give Matsuzaka some additional rest while giving the Sox another opportunity to evaluate Buchholz.

Further, the team revealed yesterday that Curt Schilling, who would have been Sunday’s starter in Tampa Bay, will instead pitch Tuesday against Oakland when the team returns home for its final homestand of the season.

That will give Schilling eight days between starts, a mini-respite before the start of the playoffs.

“We’re electing to do it now [rather than the final week],” said manager Terry Francona of the decision to give extra rest to the starters. “The [extra] rest is great, but this way, if there’s any rust [following the layoff], we’d rather have it now, then get guys on schedule and turn them loose.”

The Sox’ plan is to have 19-game winner Josh Beckett open the Division Series. Games Two and Three would then be started by Matsuzaka and Schilling, though the order won’t be determined until the Sox know more about their opponent and the schedule.

If the Sox need a fourth starter for the first round, that would be Tim Wakefield.

Such a scenario would take place if the Sox played their first two games on Thursday, Oct. 4, and Friday, Oct. 5. Under that setup, the team would probably go with a fourth starter, rather than have its Game Two starter come back on three days’ rest.

Crisp sidelined with injury

The Sox injury list grew some more yesterday as Coco Crisp sat out with a recurrence of the lower-back/hip pain that he’s been battling for the last week.

“He got real stiff [Monday] night,” said Francona. “When he’s standing around [in the outfield], you can see him favoring it. Then at the crack of the bat, he’s off. It’s been bothering him a while.”

Jacoby Ellsbury took over in center for Crisp, with Brandon Moss sliding into left field.

Youkilis sits out again

Kevin Youkilis (wrist) sat out his third straight game and is unlikely to be back in action before Friday against Tampa Bay.

“He’s made some progress,” reported Francona. “He was grabbing and squeezing a ball, but there’s still some trauma in there. He’s doing everything he can.”

“It’s a little better,” confirmed Youkilis.

Asked what a best-case scenario would be for his return, Youkilis responded: “I play [tonight].”

He later acknowledged that was highly unlikely.

Around the bases

Jason Varitek snapped an 0-for-18 skid at the plate with a second-inning single. It was his longest hitless streak since 2003. … The Sox modified their Arizona Fall League assignments. Catcher Dusty Brown, pitcher Craig Hansen and first baseman Chris Carter will play for the Mesa Solar Sox, joining pitchers Daniel Haigwood, Hunter Jones and Jose Vaquedano and infielder Jed Lowrie. Pitcher Kyle Jackson and infielder Aaron Bates, previously scheduled to play in the AFL, will not. …With his three homers Monday night, Frank Thomas now has 40 career homers against the Sox, the most by any active player.

smcadam@projo.com