The Red Sox announced this afternoon that Curt Schilling will return to the rotation on Thursday. He's getting an easy first assignment, pitching against the Kansas City Royals.

Schilling will remain in the bullpen for the final two games of this four-game series in Anaheim. Mike Timlin is expected to serve as the primary closer, beginning Tuesday, until Foulke returns. Schilling is 5-5 with a 6.37 ERA in 23 appearances this season.

I don't know how well Schilling will pitch. Schilling has a high ERA as a reliever, mostly based on the five home runs he's allowed in 23 1/3 innings. On the positive side, he's struck out 27 in those innings.

One big question mark will be Curt's in-game stamina. Can he go more than five innings? Early in the season he used a lot of pitches to get through a few innings. He's tough bird, and we'll see if his ankle is equal to that toughness