Riding the bats of rookie Jed Lowrie and the red-hot Kevin Youkilis, the Boston Red Sox head into September behind in the A.L.-East by three and one-half games. Finishing up a series with the NY Yankees, which is always thrilling, the Red Sox have more serious things to worry about.

The Chicago White Sox come to Fenway for a three-game series to end the month of August. In the month of September, the Sox only play Tampa Bay twice: a three game series in Boston and one in Tampa Bay.

Here are my predictions.

Josh Beckett dominates the month of September, going 4-0 with a low ERA somewhere in the low threes. Kevin Youkilis stays red-hot and continues to play the hero, adding eight more homers to his team-leading 24. He has faired well against interdivision opponents this season.

My Underdog of the Month award will go to Paul Byrd, who wll go 3-0 or 3-1 with a moderate ERA. The Sox will finish atop the A.L. East with a 92-70 record. My playoff predictions will come at the end of the month. Look for these predictions to be shockingly accurate.