Speaking before the Sox 7-5 victory Tuesday over the Miami Marlins, Beckett told WEEI that he wanted to make two more starts before undergoing an MRI on his shoulder, and that had originally been the plan of the team. However, he said his strength became enough of an issue that he was "overruled" on carrying out that plan.
In his last start, Beckett pitched effectively, throwing seven innings and giving up four runs on four hits, striking out five. However, the right-hander was pulled after 97 pitches, and has hit the 100-pitch mark just twice in his last seven starts — all immediately after a 126-pitch effort on April 29 against the Chicago White Sox.
In the same interview, Beckett — perhaps ironically, given his airing of the discord on his injury — also attempted to quell concerns about a report by ESPN's Buster Olney, citing the Red Sox clubhouse's atmosphere as "toxic." The 32-year-old went so far as to call the 2012 Red Sox one of the "tightest-knit" rosters he's ever been a part of.
