Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield, delivering a pitch in the first inning against the White Sox yesterday in Chicago, has a chance to win 20 games in a season for the first time in his career.

AP / Nam Y. Huh

CHICAGO — Almost without notice, in the final week of August, Tim Wakefield is tied for the major-league lead in victories.

Wakefield won his third straight start and his sixth in his last seven outings for his 16th win, tying him with teammate Josh Beckett for the most in baseball.

With more than a month remaining in the season, he has already tied his win total of last year. With another win, he can match his career high, set in 1998.

He tossed seven shutout innings yesterday and now has a 22-inning scoreless streak going. Wakefield (16-10) has also managed to get decisions in every one of his 26 starts this season. That’s the longest such streak since Jack McDowell posted decisions in 27 straight starts to open the 1993 season.

“This is the time of year to get on that kind of run,” said Wakefield. “You’ve got to leave the switch on.”

Wakefield will probably have six starts left, giving him a chance to win 20 games for the first time in his career.

“As long as we keep winning,” said Wakefield, “I don’t care. For us as a team to get into the postseason — that’s all I’m thinking about.”

Wakefield and the rest of the Sox praised catcher Kevin Cash, who caught the night portion of Friday’s day-night doubleheader, then caught Wakefield yesterday.

In two starts since stepping in for the injured Doug Mirabelli (calf) as Wakefield’s designated catcher, Cash has handled 14 scoreless innings.

“I’m very comfortable throwing to him,” said Wakefield. “I knew he had experience catching the two guys in Pawtucket (John Barnes and Charlie Zink) and he caught me in spring training. For what he’s been asked to do, he’s done a great job.

“He’s done a great job calling a game. I’ve been on the same page with him. I can’t say enough about the job he’s done.”

Manager Terry Francona echoed Wakefield’s praise.

“He’s done a great job,” said Francona of Cash. “Everybody knows how much we value Doug, but this kid has done a great job. It’s got to be a good feeling (for Wakefield) to know that the ball is going to end up in the glove. We haven’t skipped a beat.”

Cash has also contributed offensively the last few games. In the second game Friday night, he had a single, a double, a walk and an RBI. Yesterday, he had two walks and a run scored.

2008 scheduling

The 2008 schedule may not be completed for another few weeks, and issues regarding the Red Sox are a big reason for the delay.

First, Major League Baseball is pushing for the Sox to open the season in Japan against the Oakland A’s, a move most of the Red Sox are resisting. CEO Larry Lucchino, who is part of baseball’s International Committee, is one voice in favor of a trip.

The Japanese promoter has told MLB that he will not schedule the series unless the Sox are part of the matchup.

Under that scenario, the Sox would open the season in Japan against the A’s, then stop on the West Coast for additional series on the way back home.

Another issue revolves around weekend dates. Major League Baseball wants the majority of Red Sox-Yankees games scheduled for weekend series, so that the game can highlight the teams on Fox (Saturday Game of the Week) and ESPN (Sunday Night Baseball). But small-market teams, who attract their biggest crowds of the season when the Red Sox and Yankees come to town, also want their share of weekend series with the team, so as to draw even better.

Around the bases

Mike Lowell is hitting an even .400 for August — 36-for-90 — and has an eight-game hitting streak going. … Bobby Kielty was 1-for-2 with a walk against Mark Buehrle and is now hitting .370 (17-for-46) lifetime against him. … The Sox improved to 39-28 on the road, the best away mark in the American League and second only to the New York Mets (38-26) in all of baseball. … The Sox are 14-6 in their last 20 games at U.S. Cellular Field.

smcadam@projo.com