(Sports Network) - Daisuke Matsuzaka will try to run his unbeaten streak to six straight starts tonight, when he leads the American League Wild Card- leading Boston Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series versus the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park.

Matsuzaka is 4-0 over his previous five starts, all Boston wins, but did not record a decision the last time out in a 6-5 victory at Toronto on August 24. Matsuzaka was reached for five runs and eight hits in six subpar innings and remained 15-2 on the season, while raising his earned run average to 2.98 in 23 trips to the mound.

The Japanese right-hander, who is 8-2 in 12 home starts, will try for another strong outing against the White Sox. Matsuzaka tossed eight solid innings of one-run ball in a 6-2 triumph over Chicago on August 9 at U.S. Cellular Field, improving to 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts against the Pale Hose.

Matsuzaka is making Friday's start in place of injured Boston hurler Josh Beckett, who is expected to visit noted sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews on his ailing right elbow.

Boston hopes its prized acquisition from a year ago can pitch it back into the win column on Friday. The Red Sox, who sit 2 1/2 games ahead of the Twins for the wild card lead, had a three-game winning streak halted with Thursday's 3-2 loss to New York in what could have been their final trip to Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will open a new stadium in 2009.

Starter Jonathan Lester was charged with one run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings for the no-decision. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight. Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek each knocked in a run, and relief pitcher Justin Masterson was saddled with the loss for allowing the go-ahead run in just one-third of an inning.

Boston fell 4 1/2 games off the pace in the AL East standings. The Red Sox will kick off a six-game homestand versus Chicago and Baltimore tonight, and are 43-18 at Fenway Park this season.

AL Central-leading Chicago also enters this series on a losing note after having its three-game winning streak stopped with Wednesday's 11-3 bashing by the Orioles. Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye both homered for the White Sox, who are only 1 1/2 games ahead of Minnesota in the division standings.

Starter John Danks surrendered four runs on seven hits in four innings en route to the loss. Chicago is 2-1 on a nine-game road trip and 30-35 away from the Windy City this season.

Taking the hill for the White Sox this evening will be Javier Vazquez, who had a two-start winning streak come to an end the last time out on August 23 versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Vazquez gave up four runs and five hits in seven innings of a 5-3 loss.

The right-hander will face the Red Sox for the first time this season, and is 2-5 with a 4.61 earned run average in nine career games (eight starts) against them.

Boston and Chicago have split four meetings so far this season, with all four matchups at U.S. Cellular Field. The Red Sox are 9-2 in the past 11 encounters with the White Sox.