By SEAN McADAM, The Providence Journal

BOSTON -- Four games left, but more than a few questions and issues remain for the Boston Red Sox before the playoffs begin.

Among them:

-- HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

Wednesday night, outfielder J.D. Drew returned to the lineup for the first time in more than a month.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The pennant race came to Tropicana Field Monday night. But apparently someone forgot to tell the Tampa Bay Rays' fans.

Hosting the biggest series in franchise history -- admittedly, a very short list -- the Tampa Bay Rays failed to sell out last as showdown with the Red Sox for American League East supremacy, won by the Boston, 13-5.

BOSTON -- A year ago, the Boston Red Sox had the luxury of resting players in September, their postseason status assured, though not mathematically guaranteed.

This season, the Red Sox won't have that opportunity. Going into Wednesday's action, Boston still trails Tampa Bay by five games in the loss column in the A.L. East with only 24 games to go.

BOSTON -- For a change, Manny Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox are on the same page. Ramirez revealed Sunday that he wouldn't mind being traded and the Red Sox are now engaged in talks with at least four teams in an effort to accommodate him by Thursday's non-waiver trading deadline.

Help is on the way for the Boston Red Sox in the form of David Ortiz.

The Sox expect to activate Ortiz before Friday's game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Ortiz, who hasn't played since May because of a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, has spent the last week rehabbing at the Red Sox Class AAA Pawtucket and AA Portland affiliates.

Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline is still three weeks away, but two deals in the last two days -- Tuesday's that sent Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs, hard on the heels of Monday's trade that shipped C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee -- make it obvious: trading season is here.

Maybe it's something in the water in Houston.

Days after Houston Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon tackled general manger Ed Wade in the home clubhouse at Minute Maid Park, the visitors' clubhouse was the scene of another player-club employee altercation Saturday afternoon.

BOSTON -- Thanks to the signing of Bartolo Colon and the unexpected contributions from Justin Masterson, the Boston Red Sox would seem to have enough starting pitching to get themselves through the regular season.

The postseason? That could be another matter altogether.

It's June, but the Boston Red Sox are already thinking about October -- mostly because they remember last October well.

They remember last postseason, when Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka were strong and durable, in no small part because of some down time during the 2007 regular season.

BOSTON -- On Monday night, Boston manager Terry Francona labeled the likelihood of in-season surgery to repair David Ortiz's injured left wrist as "very unlikely," and the Red Sox firmly believe there is almost no chance Ortiz will need a season-ending operation.