BOSTON -- The Japanese reporters assigned to the Daisuke Matsuzaka beat asked Indians manager Eric Wedge for an update on Masa Kobayashi.

Truth is, there's not much to say.

Kobayashi has been a nonfactor for the Indians in the second half, so he probably won't be much of a factor in this four-game series against Matsuzaka's Red Sox, which continues Tuesday night at Fenway Park.

With 57 appearances and 55 2/3 innings under his belt this season, Kobayashi's right arm has all but fallen off. The 34-year-old Kobayashi hadn't pitched more than 57 2/3 innings in any of his past seven seasons in the Japanese Pacific League, so Wedge has generally stayed away from him in the second half.

This begs the obvious question: What good would Kobayashi, who was signed to a two-year, $6 million contract over the winter, be for the Indians if they were in contention?

"He'd be more available than he is now," Wedge said.

Perhaps, but easing up on the use of Kobayashi wasn't exactly a difficult decision for Wedge. Kobayashi has a 10.33 ERA in 15 appearances in the second half, and he's given up eight runs in his past six innings of work.

Before that midway point, Kobayashi was effective enough to earn Wedge's confidence in late-game setup and save situations. He had a 3.05 ERA in 42 appearances in the first half.

As a byproduct of the Tribe's bumbling bullpen in the first half, Wedge had to go to Kobayashi much more than originally planned. Wedge said he's confident the situation will be different next season.

"We didn't plan on using him that way," Wedge said. "I've got to do a better job taking care of him, and that will happen because our bullpen will be more consistent."

Kobayashi is one of several relief arms Wedge wants to be careful with in this final week of the season. Wedge intends to ease up on his use of left-hander Rafael Perez, who has a 3.36 ERA in 75innings over 70 games.

"He's been good," Wedge said of Perez. "We want to keep him that way."

Wedge also wants to keep his eye on Rafael Betancourt, who has logged 68 2/3 innings after pitching 79 1/3 last season, and John Meloan, who was converted from starting to relief work upon his arrival in the trade that sent Casey Blake to the Dodgers.

As for Kobayashi, the Indians' hope is that he'll be a factor for the entirety of the '09 season.

"He'll be going through everything for a second time," Wedge said, "so that should help him."

Pitching matchup
CLE: LHP Cliff Lee (22-2, 2.41 ERA)
Lee's bid to become the Majors' first 23-game winner since 2002 fell short Wednesday, when he gave up four runs (three earned) on 10 hits, with three walks and five strikeouts in a no-decision against the Twins. But he's still undefeated in his past 13 starts, going 11-0 with a 2.40 ERA in that span, and he's still just the fourth pitcher since 1900 to win 22 of his first 24 decisions. Lee is 2-3 with a 4.91 ERA in seven career starts against Boston and 1-1 with a 5.51 ERA in three starts at Fenway Park.

BOS: RHP Tim Wakefield (9-11, 4.18 ERA)
The veteran knuckleballer has been hit hard in two of his past three starts, both of which were fewer than three innings. Most recently, Wakefield gave up six hits and six runs in 2 1/3 innings of a loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. But the start in between was perhaps his finest of the year, as he reeled off eight scoreless innings in a win over the Blue Jays. Wakefield last pitched against the Indians on April 15, when he gave up seven hits and two runs over six innings in a no-decision at Progressive Field. He has pitched well at Fenway this year, going 6-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 12 starts.

Tidbits
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Lee and Matsuzaka are just the third pair of pitchers in MLB history to win 18 of their first 20 decisions in the same season. ... The Indians' seven-game winning streak is their second longest of the season, behind a 10-game winning streak that stretched from Aug. 17-27. ... The Tribe is 30-13 since Aug. 8. ... Ryan Garko did not reach base Monday night for the first time in 30 games. ... Zach Jackson picked up his first win as a member of the Indians on Monday, and Jensen Lewis recorded his 12th straight save.

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Up next
• Wednesday: Indians (Fausto Carmona, 8-7, 5.19) at Red Sox (Paul Byrd, 11-12, 4.53), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Indians (Jeremy Sowers, 4-8, 5.48) at Red Sox (Jon Lester, 15-6, 3.26), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Indians (Scott Lewis, 3-0, 1.42) at White Sox (John Danks, 11-8, 3.20), 8:11 p.m. ET