BOSTON -- The Red Sox will get All-Star knuckleballer Tim Wakefield back in the rotation for Wednesday night's game against the Chicago White Sox. It will be Wakefield's first start since July 8, after which he had a lower back strain and a subsequent nerve issue that caused weakness in his left calf.

Brad Penny, who was shelled Friday night and is 0-4 with a 9.11 ERA in his past five starts, is currently in limbo, according to Sox manager Terry Francona.

"[I] just talked to Penny for a little bit," said Francona. "And I understand their preparation is important -- day one, day two. I told him he's got to kind of hang tight a little bit. We'll get through today. And then we'll tell him where we go from there."