Beckett 'More Than Likely' To Miss Next Start
BOSTON (CBS) - It's looking more and more like Josh Beckett will missed his next scheduled start for the Red Sox.
The Sox right-hander was pulled in the third inning Tuesday night against the Tigers after suffering back spasms, and was scratched from a scheduled bullpen session of Thursday.
Beckett probably won't throw on Friday either, meaning the team isn't expecting him to take the hill this weekend against the Twins.
"He's not throwing today and I'd say it's questionable for him to throw tomorrow, which would then make it questionable that he would make his next start, which means he won't make it, more than likely," Valentine said Thursday.
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"He feels much improved and had a great night's sleep," added Valentine. "He's still a little limited in his motion."
If Beckett is indeed scratched, lefty Franklin Morales is the likely candidate to make the start. In five starts this season, Morales is 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA while striking out 31 over 26.1 innings. Overall, Morales is 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 33 appearances.
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Valentine is hoping Beckett won't have to miss any more starts, although he knows there is a history of the pitcher getting injured on a wet mound -- with an incident in 2010 causing him to miss over two months.
"He's been through this a couple of times before and I'll just get all the information and figure out if Tuesday's feasible or Wednesday's feasible, and what that does to the rest of the staff and if it would be better to give him the entire break," said Valentine.
