Derek

Lowe

Lowe downplayed how much the blister on his right thumb was bothering him, but scouts said he threw more cutters and sliders than he usually does during Tuesday’s loss. The blister could have contributed to Lowe’s inability to keep his sinker down in the strike zone. Lowe is scheduled to face the Orioles on Sunday, so you’ll want him active.

ESPN’s Peter Gammons said the Red Sox were “terrified” Lowe might accept, but it wouldn’t have been a worst-case scenario. Still, even with Pedro Martinez gone, it doesn’t appear that Boston has any interest in re-signing the sinkerballer.

We’re skeptical. Overpaying for Lowe -- a sinkerballer who would benefit little from working in Dodger Stadium -- wouldn’t make a lot of sense. Odalis Perez would be cheaper and better.

Lowe was not expected to receive the biopsy results until at least today. Barring bad news in the results, Lowe is not expected to miss any practice or starts.

A biopsy last week indicated that the growth was caused by an abcess from a stitch beneath his skin from the surgery he had in December. Lowe was understandably relieved.

Lowe had been slated to start Game 2 ahead of Tim Wakefield, but moving Wakefield to Game 2 and Lowe to Game 3 works for a couple reasons. First, having Wakefield follow Pedro Martinez in back-to-back games has frustrated opposing hitters with the two different styles. Second, Lowe has been much better in Fenway this year: 11-2 with a 3.21 ERA at home, 6-5 with a 6.11 ERA on the road.

“They offered me less than what they did last year, so it wasn’t a hard decision to make,” Lowe said. The Red Sox will probably let Lowe become a free agent in November. How much of an attempt they’ll make to re-sign him will depend on what happens with Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra.

Lowe, who has tried everything to prevent blisters from forming on his right thumb, seems to get them regularly when he throws his best pitch (sinker) in the humid weather. Unless a mircale cure is found (Lowe should speak to Al Leiter), Lowe may have to stop throwing the sinker, which could make him less effective.

Lowe also had a solid June last season (5-0 with a 3.72 ERA) after a rough May. Perhaps someone should advise Lowe that the MLB campaign starts in April, not June 1st.

The Mets are still targeting Pittsburgh’s Kris Benson, so they may be using their interest in Lowe as a way to get Pirate GM Dave Littlefield to lower his demands.