Major League Baseball

Kazmir gives Angels a boost vs. Yanks, Red Sox

Published Aug. 31, 2009 8:52 a.m. ET

foxsports

On Friday, the Angels helped their chances of reaching the postseason — and winning a World Series — by acquiring left-hander Scott Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays.

Over the subsequent 24 hours, two events elsewhere reaffirmed how important the Kazmir trade could be.

In Boston, Red Sox manager Terry Francona told reporters that Tim Wakefield's back "kind of locked him up" again. The knuckleballer won't make his scheduled start on Tuesday. His status after that remains unclear.