Red Sox want to give Thornton long look

BALTIMORE -- Though Red Sox manager John Farrell has a laundry list of situations he wants to see in the final two games, one that sticks out is getting lefty reliever Matt Thornton to the mound.

Thornton is one of several southpaws battling for a spot on the American League Division Series roster. The only lefty reliever who is certain to make the roster is Craig Breslow.

Since Sept. 16, Thornton has pitched just once. He entered Saturday's game having not been used in a week.

"We need to get Matt Thornton on the mound," said Farrell. "We want to get Junichi [Tazawa] to the mound. Our regular guys who have been out there, we certainly want to get them one or two appearances before we end tomorrow. And then to see Felix [Doubront] coming out of the bullpen, whether it's a one, one-plus or two-inning type stint. We're trying to get a number of things accomplished."

Whether or not the Red Sox go with a more situational pitcher like Thornton or someone with better pure stuff such as Doubront could depend on who the Red Sox play in the ALDS, Farrell confirmed.