BOSTON -- Red Sox shortstop Mike Aviles is sporting a bandage on his right foot and is still dealing with a bout of turf toe. He’s not playing Monday night as Pedro Ciriaco is starting at short for the second straight night as the Sox open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers.

“It’s not a life-threatening situation, but it sure is an encumbrance and we’re just trying to see what we can do to get that feeling out of there,” Valentine said. “Most of us have had it and it’s not fun to deal with. The less he strains it in the athletic motions of playing, the better it can calm down. If it calms down, then we’ll have 100 percent of Mike back.”

Valentine added that Aviles could serve as a pinch-hitter if needed.

* There’s less than 24 hours until the trade deadline, and whether Red Sox GM Ben Cherington makes any deals remains to be seen, but Valentine said he’s happy with the current makeup of the roster.

“I like my team,” Valentine said. “We’re a good team. If there’s any way Ben thinks we can improve it for this year and beyond, I’m sure he’s going to do that. This is a good group of guys and I don’t see any gaping holes. I see more holes on the other teams than I do ours.”

Cherington is looking for pitching depth and might be able to add a second-tier type of starter.

* It was a bit odd to see both Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach on Monday night's lineup card. Shoppach is catching and Saltalamacchia will serve as the club’s DH. Valentine said he wanted to give Cody Ross the night off, but he is available to pinch-hit. The manager had wanted to give Saltalamacchia a night “off his legs” since the team arrived home around 3:30 Monday morning after a late game against the Yankees on Sunday in New York.

* Reliever Scott Atchison had a MRI taken on his strained forearm and the team is waiting on the results.

* Despite his 2 1/3 innings of work against the Yankees Sunday night, Red Sox closer Alfredo Aceves is available to pitch Monday night, Valentine said.

* Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (trapezius strain) begins his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket Monday night. Valentine said the right-hander is feeling good and he’s expecting to throw between 75 and 90 pitches for the PawSox. The pitch count could decrease depending on how he feels.