BOSTON – Trot Nixon hopes his strained left calf will heal enough for him to resume playing by Thursday.

Gabe Kapler has started in his place in right field for a Red Sox team that has remained healthy all season. Jeremy Giambi is the only position player who has been on the disabled list.

With Boston leading Seattle in the AL wild-card race, Nixon sees no need to rush back. He has been out of the starting lineup for six games, and Kapler has played well in his absence.

“It’s not like they’re in dire straits right now that they need my bat by any means,” Nixon said. “They’re scoring runs and they’re playing good defense.”

Nixon, enjoying the best of his five full seasons, said he’s felt better each day but hasn’t tried to run at full speed.

He said the injury doesn’t affect him while swinging.

“I realize that this team is in a great position to go to the playoffs,” Nixon said.

“I don’t want to hurt them, and I don’t want to hurt my chances to go to the postseason.”

Nixon is batting .309 with 26 homers and 85 RBIs. His .574 slugging percentage was tied for fourth in the AL before Tuesday’s games.

•Tickets for the first two American League Division Series games that could be played at Fenway Park will go on sale at 6 p.m. Friday, the Red Sox said.

Approximately 9,000 tickets per game will be available and they will be sold only over the telephone and online, the club said Tuesday.

Tickets can be bought by calling (617)-482-SOX or at www.redsox.com.

If the Red Sox win the American League East, they would host Games 1 and 2 and if necessary Game 5 of a best-of-five. Game 1 would be played Sept. 30 and Game 2 on Oct. 2.

If they win the American League wild card, they would host Game 3 and if necessary Game 4 of the Division Series on Oct. 4 and 5.

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On the Net: www.redsox.com

AP-ES-09-16-03 1859EDT