Mike Lowell to the DL? Sean Casey to the rescue?

Mike Lowell has been nursing an achey hip for weeks now, but he's managed to avoid the disabled list thanks to a couple of cortisone shots.

Last night, Mikey strained his right oblique during a swing, and this time he may be forced to take a few weeks off.

“It’s frustrating because I’ve never had this happen before,” Lowell told the Herald. “I’d like to avoid (the DL), but the doc said it’s a possibility. I think right now it’s probably too early. (Today) after the MRI, they’ll have a lot more information.”

The Red Sox certainly have options, if Lowell hits the DL. Sliding Youkilis to third base and slotting Sean Casey at first, is the obvious choice, but Jed Lowrie can also play third base, and there's always Alex Cora...

“It’s definitely bad when one of your key players is out, but hopefully we have guys who will step in and play,” said Youkilis, who finished up at third base last night. “If I play third and Sean Casey plays first, that’s still a pretty good team there.”

Bottom Line: With Mikey struggling as of late - .215 in July, .195 in August - Sean Casey and his .353 BA could actually be an upgrade for the Sox... And Casey actually gets better when he's playing regularly - he batted .353 with 6 doubles and 8 RBI in 51 at-bats back in April - his busiest month by far.