ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Tim Wakefield is on the verge of giving it another shot.

After a 25-pitch side session prior to the Red Sox’ 6-3 win over the Rays on Thursday at Tropicana Field, Wakefield was told that if there is no physical setbacks regarding his back or calf he will start Saturday in Chicago against the White Sox.

The original plan was to have Junichi Tazawa make the start Saturday, but after Wakefield’s performance in his bullpen session Thursday, it was determined that the 43-year-old had progressed enough physically to make his first start since pitching seven innings of one-run ball on Aug. 26, against the White Sox at Fenway Park.

"I just think to make sure he shows up and he's not hurting," Francona said prior to the game. "He's able to execute all his pitches really well. That's not the issue. If he shows up and all of a sudden he's limping or more sore than he was, that's probably not a real good situation to put him in."

Wakefield’s knuckleball showed life in his side session, although there are still clearly physical limitations when it comes to moving around.

The pitcher has shown progress since getting a cortisone shot on Monday to relieve the pressure of a loose fragment in his back. It has made enough of a difference that Wakefield finds himself on the verge of returning to the mound instead of undergoing surgery that would require a month of recovery time.

“I’m ready to go back,” he said. “I was a little doubtful after my last start when I had that pain, but after the injection, everything feels a lot better. We’ll see how I feel (Friday). It’s more or less day to day.”

Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell, who observed Wakefield’s side session with trainer Paul Lessard, assistant trainer Mike Reinold and bullpen coach Gary Tuck, viewed Wakefield’s throwing session Thursday with optimism.

"The execution of pitches and the quality of the knuckleball that he was able to throw was there today throughout the entire session, so he's doing everything that he's capable of at this point," Farrell said.

Wakefield’s season had been put in doubt following the Aug. 26 start, when the pain in his back got so severe last Saturday that he was forced to leave Fenway Park to recuperate at home. That led to the epidural shot Monday.

The outing against the White Sox was the first for Wakefield since July 8, prior to the All-Star break. His record stands at 11-3 with a 4.12 ERA.

“It's the same as it's been for the last two and a half months," Wakefield said. "The pain has gone away -- the pain from after my last start. So that's a good sign."