Bruce Chen was fantastic in his final start of the season despite picking up a no-decision, tossing eight scoreless innings on eight hits and two walks in a loss to the Twins. The Red Sox probably could have used that Thursday, eh? Chen was removed after throwing 115 pitches and watched Blake Wood give up a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in the 1-0 loss. The veteran left-hander concludes the year with a 3.77 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 25 starts this season. He should draw a decent amount of interest in free agency but has expressed a desire to remain in Kansas City.

CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam reports that the Red Sox have "given up" on trying to find a last-minute starter. Jon Lester will take the mound on Wednesday night against the Orioles. If the American League Wild Card then requires a tiebreaker, the Game 163 starter will come from within the Red Sox organization. Bruce Chen was a target for Boston, but he'll be a Type B free agent this offseason and so the Royals decided to keep him.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Red Sox are still discussing whether to acquire a pitcher for a possible one-game playoff with the Tampa Bay Rays, specifically Royals' left-hander Bruce Chen. Chen is just one name on a list of potential targets. It would be a savvy move for the pitching-starved Red Sox, as the Rays have a .249 batting average against left-handed pitchers this season. However, the Red Sox will need to get a deal done quickly if they want Chen, as he is scheduled to pitch the Royals' season finale Wednesday night against the Twins. For what it's worth, according to the latest Elias rankings update via MLB Trade Rumors, the 34-year-old left-hander currently qualifies as a Type B free agent in the American League. If the Red Sox end up winning the Wild Card, Chen would not be eligible for the postseason roster.

Bruce Chen again dominated the White Sox on Friday, allowing just one run on two hits in eight innings of an 11-1 Royals victory. Chen will finish 2011 with a 3-1 record to go along with a 1.89 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 33 1/3 innings across four starts against the White Sox. The owner of a 3.98 ERA and 1.31 WHIP on the season, he'll get the Twins in Minnesota in Kansas City's season finale next Wednesday.

Bruce Chen couldn't solve the White Sox Sunday, getting blasted for four runs on nine hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out a pair. This outing comes about a month after Chen one-hit the White Sox in Chicago, and he had allowed just two runs over 20 innings to them this season prior to today. He'll get a chance at them again, when he will carry a 4.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP into Chicago next weekend.

Bruce Chen frustrated the Indians with 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball on Sunday, allowing just five hits in a 2-1 Royals victory in Cleveland. Chen has now allowed just seven runs in 27 innings of work across his past five starts for an ERA of 1.67. Now 10-5 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.36 WHIP on the season, he'll get the Indians again next Friday, this time in Kansas City.

Bruce Chen held the Yankees to three runs on seven hits in six innings of work on Wednesday, improving to 8-5 in a 5-4 Kansas City win at home. He struck out three, walked three and allowed a pair of home runs. The quality start was Chen's second straight, though just his second in five outings. He'll get the Blue Jays in Toronto in Tuesday.

Bruce Chen yielded just one hit over six shutout innings in a 5-1 win over the White Sox Friday. Chen did walk three and hit a pair of batters, but it was still an impressive performance for him and an embarrassing showing for the White Sox lineup. It's especially disheartening for Sox fans to know that Chen came into the game having allowed 16 runs over his previous 13 1/3 innings. He'll take a 4.15 ERA and 1.42 WHIP into next week's showdown with the Yankees.

Bruce Chen allowed three runs on five hits in five innings of work on Sunday, improving to 6-5 in Kansas City's 4-3 win over the Tigers. He struck out five and walked none. Chen had failed to complete five innings in both of his past two starts, so today was a minor improvement. He'll take a 4.43 ERA and 1.48 WHIP into his weekend outing against the White Sox.

Bruce Chen scattered just four hits and one run across eight innings of work on Wednesday evening, taking a no-decision in Kansas City's 2-1, 11-inning win over the White Sox. He struck out four and walked one, with his only real mistake coming in the fifth, where he served up a solo home run to Carlos Quentin. Now the owner of a 3.30 ERA and 1.36 WHIP through his first 73 2/3 innings of work, it wouldn't be stunning if Chen drew a little bit of interest ahead of next week's trade deadline.