If an extended side session goes well on Tuesday, Red Sox manager Terry Francona announced following his team's 4-2 loss to the Rangers that Josh Beckett would return to the rotation on Friday in Seattle against the Mariners. Beckett made two rehab starts for Triple-A Pawtucket and had made just eight starts this season for Boston before being put on the disabled list on May 19 with a strained lower back.
"As far as I’m concerned, yeah, I’m ready to start on Friday, but it’s not the end-all, be-all," said Beckett, who gave up three runs in his second rehab start on Saturday in Syracuse (WEEI)."
The Sox are quickly falling out of the playoff race, and really need to get healthy ASAP. With Beckett back, and Buchholz probably back at some point this week, the Sox on paper have a great staff (Lester, Buchholz, Beckett, Lackey, Dice-K). Still, this isn't their only problem. Their hitting is finally starting to cool off. V-Mart was able to play catch yesterday, but is still having pain in that thumb. There is no timetable for his return. Pedroia probably won't be back until early Augest, and lord knows when Ellbury will return. On top of all of that the Sox also need to find a way to fix that bullpen, and something tells me Bowden is not the guy to do it.
I still think the Sox have a shot at making the playoffs (currently 6 1/2 games back of the Yankees and 3 games back of the Rays), but that window can close very fast if the Sox stumble.
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