BOSTON — Back spasms shouldn't sideline Josh Beckett for much longer.
For the first time since his start on July 31 — when he exited after 2 2/3 innings — Beckett played long toss before Saturday's game against the Twins and his progress was enough to convince the coaching staff that he's healthy.
Due to that progress, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine and pitching coach Bob McClure each indicated that Beckett would likely be slotted to start in Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
"He's progressing, he's having less and less discomfort there," McClure said. "So it's progressing pretty good. We just didn't want to take a chance where we'd force the issue to where we'd have to shut him down and he'd be lost for a month."
"We took precautionary steps to keep him healthy. If the guy is having discomfort in a game and it's in that area, you have to be careful."
By starting on Wednesday, Beckett would be taking Aaron Cook's spot in the Red Sox rotation. Despite the tweaks, Valentine wouldn't permanently commit to moving Cook to the bullpen and keeping Franklin Morales in the rotation.
"I don't plan on going with six pitchers all year," Valentine said. "So we'll see."
Morales will start in Beckett's place in Sunday's game against Minnesota.
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