CLEVELAND -- The Red Sox have had 24 players on the disabled list this season, the most by any team since 1987.

It hasn’t helped their sagging fortunes this season to have their leading hitter, DH David Ortiz, sidelined since July 17 with a right Achilles strain. Ortiz, who has missed the last 22 games, was batting .316 with 23 home runs and 58 RBIs before going down.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said that Ortiz planned on doing some agility work on Thursday, along with taking batting practice. Ortiz, 36, will run the bases on Friday.

“Then we should know where he really is,” Valentine said. “He said there’s been no stiffness.”

If all goes well, Ortiz could play in the series finale on Sunday at Progressive Field.

“I could see that, maybe,” Valentine said. “That would be on schedule.”

If he returns to form, Valentine said that he is convinced the Red Sox can make a serious run at the wild card. They were 5½ games out of the wild card heading into Thursday’s game.

“We’re due,” he said.

The Red Sox manager would have almost all of his big guns in time for the stretch run.

“We’ll see,” he said. “I have no idea on predicting anything.”

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was given a breather from playing the field Thursday, and instead manned the DH role against the Indians. Pedroia spent some time on the disabled list with a strained right thumb.

“It was time,” Valentine said. “I’ve talked to him and he always talks you out of it. With David not here, we’re trying to make the best use of the opportunity.”

The overtaxed Red Sox bullpen has been trying to stay above water. The Sox traded right-handed reliever Matt Albers to Arizona on July 31 for Craig Breslow.

“It’s been a little different mix out there since Breslow has been here,” Valentine said. “Albers was an inning-plus right-hander.”

Junichi Tazawa and Mark Melancon are trying to fill Albers’ role.

Right-handed Andrew Bailey, on the 60-day DL with right thumb surgery, has yet to pitch for the Red Sox this season. He pitched an inning and struck out two at Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday.

“He had good velocity,” Valentine said.

Bailey will pitch again on Sunday and then they’ll see how he feels.

The Red Sox finally settled on their starting rotation for the rest of the series, as Clay Buchholz will throw on Friday, Franklin Morales on Saturday and Jon Lester on Sunday.