American League opponents have been waiting patiently for Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield to revert back from 2007 Cy Young Award contender to the picture of above-average durability.
But what if it doesn't happen?

Boston's 40-year-old has had great seasons before, most recently in 2002, when in 163 1/3 innings for the Red Sox, he registered a 2.81 ERA. His knuckler has been biting harder in the early going of 2007, holding hitters to a .189 opponents' batting average.

Phil Niekro and Hoyt Wilhelm, the only knuckleball pitchers currently enshrined in the Hall of Fame, each pitched into his late 40s before experiencing a drop-off in production. Wilhelm, in fact, entered his peak years as a 40-something reliever for the Chicago White Sox in 1963, posting more sub-2.00 ERAs after his 40th birthday (five) than before (one).

Wakefield's stellar ERA drop, from 4.63 last year to an AL-leading 1.79 in 45 1/3 innings this year, has not been accompanied by a corresponding rise in strikeouts; on balls in play, the Red Sox have merely done a better job converting batted balls to outs.

Will Wakefield keep his magical run going no Tuesday against Detroit, the Majors' third-best run-scoring team? And will Boston's red-hot offense lend him enough support against 24-year-old Tigers phenom Justin Verlander to earn Wakefield's fifth win of the season?

Fans will find out soon enough.