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(Sports Network) - Tim Wakefield may be on the disabled list, but the Boston Red Sox will still have a knuckleball pitcher in the starting rotation when the defending world champions begin a three-game series with the visiting Texas Rangers tonight at Fenway Park.

Charlie Zink makes his major league debut this evening in place of Wakefield, who will miss at least two starts because of a stiff right shoulder. The 28- year-old Zink has toiled the last seven seasons in the Boston organization since being signed by the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent in 2002, and has put together a breakthrough campaign for Triple-A Pawtucket this year.

In 25 starts with the PawSox this season, Zink has amassed a stellar 13-4 record along with a 2.89 earned run average. The right-hander is tied for the International League lead in victories and ranks third among IL hurlers in ERA.

The knuckleball specialist will be facing a potent Texas lineup that tops the majors in both batting average (.281) and runs scored (667). The Rangers put their offensive prowess on display in Sunday's matchup at Baltimore, as the club pounded out 20 hits and three home runs en route to a 15-7 rout of the Orioles.

Ian Kinsler had a career-high five hits, including a home run, and finished with three RBI to lead Texas' onslaught. Marlon Byrd went 4-for-6 with a homer and four RBI for the Rangers, while Josh Hamilton had a three-run homer among his three hits on the day.

Matt Harrison (4-2) was the benefactor of that offensive uprising, as the Texas rookie picked up the win despite allowing six runs and 10 hits over five innings.

The Rangers halted a four-game losing streak with Sunday's triumph and will be attempting to end a string of five straight defeats at Fenway Park tonight. The Red Sox swept a four-game set from Texas at home from April 18-21.

Boston has also won 10 of the last 12 overall meetings between these teams.

The Red Sox presently trail red-hot Tampa Bay by four games for first place in the American League East but do own a two-game edge on Chicago for the top spot in the AL Wild Card race. Boston just split a four-game wraparound series with the White Sox in Chicago, drawing even with Monday's 5-1 decision.

Josh Beckett (11-8) put forth a dominating mound performance for the Red Sox, as the hard-throwing ace limited Chicago to one run and seven hits through eight innings of work. The right-hander struck out eight White Sox batters and did not issue a walk.

J.D. Drew and Jed Lowrie each had two-run doubles for Boston, which wrapped up a seven-game road trip with a 4-3 record.

The Red Sox have been outstanding at home this year, having compiled a 40-16 mark at Fenway Park thus far in 2008.

Boston will take its swings tonight off Scott Feldman, who makes his first career start against the Sox. The right-hander has yielded just one run and two hits in 6 1/3 innings over four career relief appearances versus Boston.

Feldman was moved into the Texas rotation in early May and has gone 4-5 with a 4.67 ERA in his 18 season starts. The 25-year-old has lost his last two outings, although he pitched well in last Thursday's setback against the Yankees. Feldman gave up just two runs over seven innings to New York, but failed to get any offensive support in a 3-0 loss.