It’s been a rough 2010 for the Boston Red Sox. The injuries started in April with the sidelining of Jacoby Ellsbury and never let up. The latest casualty is team homerun and slugging leader Kevin Youkilis, who is done for the season after having thumb surgery. However, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel as Dustin Pedroia battles back from a broken right foot.

He suffered the injury back on June 25 and has been pushing to get back in the lineup ever since. At one point, he had to be brought in slowly by the Red Sox training staff because his ambitious workout schedule ran the risk of aggravating the injury. Widely known as a “gamer,” Pedroia has generally been making a nuisance of himself as he desperately tries to get back into playing shape, prompting manager Terry Francona to remark, “he’s a pain in the ass,” when asked about his condition.

If no other problems are found, Pedroia will play two rehab starts at Pawtucket over the weekend before rejoining the team for their game this Tuesday against the Angels. Upon Pedroia’s return, the Red Sox lineup will be as complete as it’s going to get this season without Youkilis. Mike Lowell has been putting up impressive numbers in Youkilis’s place, knowing full well that the team badly needs the run production.

With their lineup back to close to normal, the Red Sox have the next month and a half to get themselves into position to take the Wild Card, or, if the Yankees stumble badly, even the division. The team is in high spirits and won’t rule anything out. Since they’ve battled through injuries to keep relative pace with the Rays and the Yankees, expectations are rising, and Boston fans are wondering whether the Red Sox can make another epic run.

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