OK, let's look at this from a different perspective.
This is not a chance for the Sox to implode, making their wild card lead quite vulnerable.
This is a game where the Sox can all but lock up the wild card and, with it, the postseason.
This is an opportunity.
It's unfortunate that Varitek will have to start against a righty, but such is often the reality of day games. But the Sox will make up for that, one hopes, with this man:
Unfortunately, the Rays have a pretty strong guy on the mound as well.
Go Sox!