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DETROIT--Bobby Valentine said Josh Beckett complained of no physical issues following his start Saturday.

“Just got through talking to him,’’ Valentine said Sunday morning. “Mentally bruised, but physically fine.’’

Beckett allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings Saturday, after allowing six earned runs in his previous five starts combined against the Tigers. Of course, those Tigers did not have Prince Fielder, who with Miguel Cabrera hit two home runs apiece. They went back-to-back once.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Beckett is the first pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to allow at least five home runs in a game within his team's first two games of the season.

Beckett had given up five home runs only once in his career, on Aug. 23, 2009, against the Yankees in a start in which he went eight innings.

Last season, he did not give up his fifth home run until his 15th start on June 28, a span of 97 2/3 innings.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Takeaways from the Fort, where the green-clad Sox beat the Orioles, 7-4, in a split squad here while tying another batch of O's, 3-3, in 10 innings in Sarasota:

The Red Sox released pitcher Carlos Silva, who was coming off shoulder surgery and was shut down with shoulder inflammation this spring, taking him out of the competition for a starting spot here. GM Ben Cherington said the team elected to give Silva a chance to catch on with another club.

Cody Ross had a double and a home run, his first since hitting two in the college games, and Lars Anderson had a double and two-run single for the Sox in the Fort. Ross is hitting .450 this spring, Anderson .429.

Aaron Cook made his second spring appearance, giving up a hit in 3 1/3 scoreless innings against the Orioles in Sarasota.

"It's what I was looking for," Cook said upon his return to the Fort. "Groundball outs, and short innings. Four fly ball outs, one strikeout, rest were ground balls."

Cook has been hurt each of the last two seasons -- a broken leg in 2010, and a broken finger and an inflamed shoulder last season -- and was placed on a slower progression than the other pitchers in camp this spring. That's not a concern, he said.

"I don't worry about it," he said. "I threw three and a third today, they keep putting up innings and I'll just go out there and keep pitching. There are no issues."

Cook has a May 1 opt-out of his contract. "I want to start,'' said Cook, who pitched 10 seasons for the Rockies, winning a career-high 16 games in 2008, before signing a minor-league deal with the Red Sox. But if asked to go to the pen would he do so? "Definitely,'' he said.

Josh Beckett had an easy time of it Saturday, pitching against an Orioles team that had just one regular position player, Chris Davis (possibly two if you project Wilson Betemit as the team's DH). Beckett worked five innings in which he threw 59 pitches, an impressive 40 for strikes. Beckett gave up a run on two hits and a walk, striking out two. The game was completed in a snappy 2 hours 37 minutes, which should give you a sense of the pace at which he worked, and the results he achieved.

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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Josh Beckett had a personal catcher in Jason Varitek, but nothing like what Bobby Valentine experienced when he took over as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.

“I was told I had a catcher who couldn’t catch my closer,’’ he said. “Not that he wouldn’t work with him, he couldn’t catch him.

“That,’’ Valentine said, “was a problem.’’

The problem was resolved only when Chiba Lotte traded away the closer’s preferred catcher. The next season, Valentine said, they won a championship with the closer throwing to the catcher he had previously spurned.

“I think Josh is going to pitch,’’ Valentine said dryly, “regardless of who catches.’’

But it will be an adjustment. In six seasons with the Red Sox, Beckett has thrown 1,112 2/3 innings. Varitek was behind the plate for 905 of them, including all but 11 innings caught by Jarrod Saltalamacchia last season. Until Terry Francona mixed it up with Victor Martinez in 2010, Varitek caught 551 2/3 innings thrown by Beckett from 2007 to 2009. Other Sox catchers caught 28 in that span.

“I think it’s very important, very challenging to be on the same page with anyone who may be catching, which even complicates the equation more,’’ Valentine said, “because we can’t say it’s going to be Salty catching him every game, or most games.

“We’re going to try to prep that team within a team the best we can, knowing it’s going be a project that will evolve as the season continues. It won’t be a completed project in spring training.’’

Sunday afternoon, Saltalamacchia was behind the plate for Beckett’s spring debut, one in which he pitched two scoreless innings in Boston’s 8-3 win over the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park. The process of making that adjustment, Beckett said, already has begun.

“We’ve had a lot of dialogue,’’ Beckett said. “[Ryan] Lavarnway caught me in my first BP. I think this was the third time time Salty caught me, and [Kelly] Shoppach has caught me twice.

“There are key reminders you try to give them. There are a couple of things I tend to lean toward when things aren’t going good for me. A lot of it stems from where my head’s going and where my front side is, and so we’ve talked a lot about that.’’

Valentine has said he doesn’t subscribe to the idea of personal catchers, which inhibit a manager’s ability to factor in other elements -- how a catcher hits a certain pitcher, whether a catcher needs some rest, injuries, etc. That said, he recognizes Beckett and Varitek had developed a special working relationship that Beckett will miss.

“One thing Jason and I did really well, we worked together,’’ Beckett said. “There were meetings where I got my way and there were meetings he got his way. I think being able to resolve those differences and making the right call, not because one guy’s too stubborn or the other guy’s too stubborn, but making the right decision because that’s what you’ve got to do.’’

That takes some doing.

“I don’t think there’s one way of rectifying that,’’ Valentine said. “From the outside, the only way to rectify it is for a pitcher and catcher to really feel comfortable with it. We’re going to have [catching instructor] Gary Tuck to help facilitate this, [pitching coach Bob] McClure to facilitate it. There’s just trust that has to be established.

“You can’t get [caught up with] the blame game. A hit is a hit -- end of conversation. A home run is going to be a home run -- end of conversation. A 3-2 pitch is a 3-2 pitch -- end of conversation, because we’re working together. But that won’t happen for a while.’’

Beckett agreed it doesn’t happen overnight.

“It takes a little bit of time,’’ Beckett said. “It can happen in the bullpen before a game and it changes all the time. One time I had a great feel for my changeup and Jason had a great feel for what I was throwing best, which he tended to go to more often. Or one game, maybe my cutter was better in the bullpen. You just recognize that.

“Jason and I didn’t have to talk. We just knew. That’s something I have full confidence that Salty and I, and Shoppy and I will be able to do.’’

BOSTON -- I tweeted this earlier Wednesday, but it deserves a place here, given all the hoohah surrounding Josh Beckett being one of the Red Sox miscreants, drinking beer in the clubhouse during games on his off-days and, according to the Boston Globe, eating fried chicken while playing video games.

That inspired Palm Beach Post reporter Joe Capozzi, who covers the Florida Marlins, to call former Marlins manager Jack McKeon, who managed Beckett when he was with the Marlins and won a World Series for Florida in 2003. McKeon said he used to lock the clubhouse in order to keep Beckett and former Sox pitcher Brad Penny in the dugout during games.

McKeon even resorted to keeping a stack of bathroom passes in the dugout.

“In between innings they’d go to the clubhouse to get a drink or hang out,’’ McKeon told Capozzi.

“I said, ‘Hey, I got no rule against going up if you have to go to the bathroom or something, but get back.’ A couple of times I looked down the bench to talk to somebody and they weren’t there. They were in the clubhouse. So I went up and got them out and said, ‘OK, boys that’s it. We’ll lock the door.’”

McKeon had a similar recollection back in June, when he was rehired as Marlins manager, but told the story more colorfully back then:

“I would go in the clubhouse with bat and (say) ‘Get your asses out of here!’” he said.

McKeon also recalled how he handed out what he called “poo-poo cards and pee-pee cards. Put them where I was sitting (in the dugout), so if you wanted to go to the bathroom, you had to get a card. That broke it up.''

McKeon said he was disappointed to hear the reports that Beckett was back in the clubhouse during Sox games, but did not criticize manager Terry Francona for how he dealt with it.

“That’s up to the manager,’’ McKeon said. “If you did that in the past and no one said anything, it looks like it's fine to do that. I just put a stop to it.

“I had a pretty good bunch of guys,” McKeon said of his ’03 team. “A lot of the guys were young guys who’d done it in the past. I was just trying to put a stop to it. Just like I did this year. I didn’t lock it this year but I threatened a couple of times. They were pretty good.’’

McKeon said it’s important for all 25 players to focus on the game from the dugout and bullpen, and not just as a show of solidarity to teammates.

“I wanted them guys to observe. You learn by watching the other teams and rooting for your guys,’’ McKeon said.

“If you’re not on the bench, that’s not going to happen. This is a situation where you can learn so much. It can be very valuable to you if you’re pitching tomorrow night or the next night against these guys, what they’re hitting, what they’re looking for -- stuff like that.’’

BOSTON -- Red Sox manager Terry Francona said that pitcher Josh Beckett (ankle) will start either Thursday or Friday of this week against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Beckett tossed a side session on the team's off day Monday at Fenway Park and did well enough to think that he’ll be able to return later this week. He played long toss again on Tuesday and is set to meet with team doctors before a final decision is made.

“He feels really good,” Francona said. “In fact he said he could have pitched yesterday, which is good news. We have to come up with a starter either Thursday or Friday, so I told him, ‘Whatever is in your best interest, and if you think the extra day helps you even more, we’ll push you back.’ So that’s where we’re at.”

Francona did not watch Beckett’s side session on Monday, but said pitching coach Curt Young was pleased, as was Beckett.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Josh Beckett will throw off a mound Monday in Fenway Park, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said, one week after the Red Sox right-hander sprained his right ankle in Toronto.

If all goes well, there's a possibility that Beckett will be able to return to the rotation by Thursday at the earliest, although Francona suggested the weekend was a more likely scenario.

Beckett, who has been throwing while wearing a brace, had said he experienced little discomfort on Saturday, when he threw on flat ground and was hopeful of continuing his progression. Monday's side session, assuming the ankle doesn't flare up afterward, should be the last step to returning to the rotation.

The Red Sox are currently in a stretch in which their starters have failed to go more than five innings in eight of their last 10 games. That includes the outing by Beckett last Monday, when he was forced to leave in the fourth after experiencing pain.

Meanwhile, Clay Buchholz (back) had another good throwing session from flat ground on Sunday, throwing from 120 feet. Francona said the plan is for Buchholz to repeat that routine on Tuesday.

Third baseman Kevin Youkilis (hip, sports hernia) is expected to rejoin the club Tuesday, but Francona said it was unknown whether he'll be able to play.

The Red Sox hope Josh Beckett will miss only a start or two, but will know more in the next few days, a team source told ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes.

The Sox released a statement on Beckett earlier Tuesday night, saying his ankle injury is consistent with a sprain. Earlier in the day, before test results were available, manager Terry Francona said Beckett likely would miss his next start.

Here's the text of the statement:

Josh was evaluated today at the Massachusetts General Hospital by the Red Sox medical staff, including team foot and ankle specialist Dr. George Theodore. Josh experienced pain in his ankle while pitching last night. His examination was consistent with an ankle sprain. An MRI was performed that confirmed no other injury to his ankle tendons, or his Achilles tendon. We will re-evaluate his symptoms and availability later this week.

We'll have more after Francona's postgame meeting with reporters.

The Red Sox have released a statement on Josh Beckett's ankle, saying the injury is consistent with an ankle sprain. Earlier in the day, before test results were available, manager Terry Francona said Beckett likely would miss his next start.

Here's the text of the statement:

Josh was evaluated today at the Massachusetts General Hospital by the Red Sox medical staff, including team foot and ankle specialist Dr. George Theodore. Josh experienced pain in his ankle while pitching last night. His examination was consistent with an ankle sprain. An MRI was performed that confirmed no other injury to his ankle tendons, or his Achilles tendon. We will re-evaluate his symptoms and availability later this week.

SEATTLE -- It’s difficult to be certain who it was in Boston uniform No. 19 Saturday night in Safeco Field, but it certainly wasn’t the Josh Beckett that Red Sox fans have become accustomed to this year.

In many ways it was a throwback to the vile days of 2010, when Becket was used as a punching bag by the American League en route to a 6-6 record and 5.78 ERA.

This year, Beckett was back in focus at 9-4 and 2.17. That was until Saturday, when Ichiro Suzuki hit his first pitch into the right-field seats and the Mariners struck for four more runs before Beckett had recorded his second out.

Five runs? That was as many first-inning runs as Beckett had allowed in his first 22 starts combined.

The trouble lay primarily with his breaking pitches. He couldn’t get them anywhere near the strike zone, and the Mariners were willing to sit and wait for his fastball, jumping on it at their leisure in the first.

The expected Beckett kicked back in come the second inning, and he kept the Mariners at bay for the rest of his five innings, although he had to strike out former Red Sox power hitter Wily Mo Pena with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning, his last.

It was the kind of game even the best pitchers have every once in a while, but it was surprising that it came against the Mariners, a team that got just one run off Beckett in seven innings back on July 23 in Fenway. Seattle has the worst offense in the Major Leagues and didn’t figure to be the threat it was.

After falling behind early, the task ahead of the Sox wouldn’t have been so onerous were it not that defending Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez was their opposition. For five innings the Sox did little against Hernandez, although don’t tell that to Boston manager Terry Francona, who was ejected in the fourth inning when Jacoby Ellsbury was called safe, then out, on a play at the plate.

Home plate umpire Mark Ripperger watched Ellsbury slide into Seattle catcher Josh Bard and called him safe, apparently when he saw the white of the ball. However, the Mariners argued successfully that Bard never lost control of the ball and when the call went against the Red Sox, Francona argued until he got himself run.

That meant the manager had to take in the Red Sox’s comeback from the manager’s office. And come back Boston did, starting with Ellsbury, whose two-run homer in the sixth rocked Hernandez. Three batters later, Dustin Pedroia launched a two-run bomb of his own, and the Red Sox were back in the game, down just a run at 5-4.

They never got any closer, and the deeper Boston got into the game, the bigger that play at the plate stood. A double play wiped out a scoring chance for the Sox in the seventh, and two more chances were lost in the eighth, first on another double play, then when pinch runner Darnell McDonald was thrown out stealing.

And the ninth inning saw Mariner closer Brandon League slam the door as the Red Sox lost to the lowly Mariners for the third time this year.

BOSTON -- With the way Josh Beckett has been pitching and the Red Sox offense has been hitting, it would seem logical that Boston’s ace would be well past the 10-win mark by the end of the first week in August.

So much for logic.

Beckett was denied his 10th victory for the third start in a row Sunday night despite allowing only one earned run in six innings.

It was the 12th time Beckett has held his opponents to one run or fewer this season, trailing only Jered Weaver for most in the American League. Unfortunately for Beckett, it was also the fifth time this season he has allowed just one earned run but earned a no-decision, which is tops in the majors.

Beckett left the game after the sixth with the score knotted at 1-1 after the usually potent Sox offense mustered only one run off Yankees starter Freddy Garcia. The game wasn’t decided until early Monday morning, when Josh Reddick sent the sellout crowd home with a walk-off single in the 10th inning for a 3-2 Boston win. It was the sixth extra-inning affair in Beckett's starts this season.

“It was a battle. There’s no doubt about it,” said Beckett, who despite his strong showing wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance. “That’s a tough team to have one of those days against. My location wasn’t real crisp, got away with a few pitches, but saved myself with some off-speed pitches.”

Beckett’s only blemish came in the fifth inning when he surrendered a solo home run to Eduardo Nunez. Before the fifth, he had allowed just two base runners through the first four frames while striking out four.

“He left a fastball that caught too much of the plate to Nunez, but other than that, that’s kind of what we’ve come to expect every five or six days,” manager Terry Francona said. “Gives you a chance to win and doesn’t give up a lot of runs.”

Beckett continued his dominance of the Yankees this season, holding New York to one run or fewer while lasting at least six innings for the third time this year. In four starts against the Yankees, Beckett is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA.

“I’m proud of that, just because of how good a lineup that is,” Beckett said. “Even missing [Alex] Rodriguez, they’ve got a few other guys that have stepped up since he’s been gone, so it’s a tough lineup. You have to make pitches. You can’t just make pitches with your fastball. They’re a really good fastball-hitting team.”

Over his last five starts, Beckett has allowed just seven earned runs. Remarkably, he has won only one of those five starts while receiving one loss and three no-decisions. In all five of those games, Boston has scored three runs or fewer.

“We can’t help when we score runs and when we don’t,” a sympathetic Jason Varitek said. “I’m sure there’s probably going to be a time where we put up a 15-spot for him and he’s going to give up 8. It’ll even out. It usually does."

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays were involved in a classic Sunday night at Tropicana Field.

It started as a pitchers’ duel and ended with a 1-0 Red Sox win in 16 innings. Boston’s Dustin Pedroia provided an RBI single in the top of the 16th and closer Jonathan Papelbon earned his 21st save of the season to help Boston to victory.

It was a gem by both starters as the Sox’s Josh Beckett and the Rays’ Jeff Niemann battled it out, each working eight scoreless innings.

When both starters were done, the respective bullpens -- a total of 13 relievers -- kept putting up zeros until Pedroia provided his heroics off Tampa pitcher Adam Russell.

The time of game was five hours, 44 minutes, making it the longest game in Rays history.

“It was a great game. We’re just happy we won,” Pedroia said.

“I was pretty tired in the 16th, I’m not going to lie. It was more of a ‘I don’t care what happens feeling’ when you step up there, but you’re playing to win and it doesn’t matter how long it takes.”

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he had a feeling Pedroia would be the one to come through.

“By that time, it’s not just physical. It’s mentally draining and he’s probably the one guy you know who will figure out a way,” Francona said.

“I wouldn’t trade Pedey for anybody in the league right now,” David Ortiz said.

Not only did this marathon feature solid pitching, both teams traded defensive gems all night and into the early morning.

By the time the game ended at 1:54 a.m. ET, it seemed like the starters’ performances occurred ages ago.

“This was a pretty wild one and it was fun to be a part of,” Beckett said. “I looked over at [Jon] Lester when I came out and said, ‘Man, this is a fun game.’ I didn’t realize at the time it was going to go that long, but it was fun to be in a game like that with another guy who is putting up zeros.”

Beckett allowed only one hit over eight scoreless innings with no walks and six strikeouts. He threw 106 pitches, 71 for strikes and retired the final 22 batters he faced. But all he had to show for it was his seventh no-decision in 18 starts this season.

Beckett tossed a complete-game one-hitter here on June 15, which was the same night the Bruins won the Stanley Cup.

Beckett was removed from his last start, on July 8 against the Orioles at Fenway Park, after five innings due to a hyperextended left knee. At the time he didn’t think it was much of an issue and after throwing a side session a few days later, he was given medical clearance to pitch in the All-Star Game. But on the day of the game in Phoenix, his knee tightened up on him and he was scratched for precautionary reasons.

Beckett obviously showed no ill effects on Sunday.

Niemann finished eight scoreless innings and allowed only two hits with two walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts. He tossed a season-high 118 pitches with 75 for strikes.

It appeared the Rays would have a chance in the bottom of the 10th, but a tremendous catch at the wall by Red Sox left fielder Josh Reddick stifled any possible momentum.

With two outs and Matt Albers on the mound for the Red Sox, the Rays’ Justin Ruggiano crushed a ball to deep left-center field. Both Reddick and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury closed on the ball before Reddick made a leaping catch at the wall just to the right of the 370 mark.

“Unbelievable,” Beckett said of the defense. “I had great defense behind me today. I think there were about seven hits taken away from them, balls that they squared up. The defense was awesome today.”

Boston loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the 11th inning, but could not capitalize as Reddick and Jason Varitek struck out and Marco Scutaro popped out to the catcher to end the threat.

FIRING BLANKS: After Beckett’s performance, Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard kept his scoreless streak intact in the ninth inning. The right-hander allowed only one hit and one walk, but retired the side to extend his career-high streak to 21 2/3 innings. He has thrown 14 scoreless innings over his past 13 appearances against the Rays, dating back to Sept. 3, 2009.

EXTENDED: Pedroia continues to be locked in at the plate and he extended his season-high hitting streak to 15 games. He finished the night 3-for-7 and is hitting .384 (25-for-65) during his current streak.

DEFENSIVE GEMS: Pedroia is not only excelling at the plate, he’s playing even better defensively. He made two tremendous plays Sunday night. In the bottom of the fourth, he robbed Casey Kotchman of a possible base hit. Kotchman lined a hard grounder up the middle, but Pedroia ranged to his right, made a diving stop, quickly got to his feet and made a strong throw for the out to end the inning. He did it again in the sixth on a similar play, this time stealing a possible hit from Tampa shortstop Reid Brignac. Brignac robbed Pedroia of a hit with a highlight-reel play in the top of the inning.

UP NEXT: As the Red Sox were preparing for batting practice Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field, pitcher Tim Wakefield was heading to Baltimore a day early in preparation for his start against the Orioles on Monday at Camden Yards. The veteran knuckleballer is 5-3 with a 4.74 ERA in 12 starts this season for Boston. Baltimore sends right-hander Brad Bergesen (1-6, 5.65) to the mound. Wakefield has a career 16-3 record against the Orioles with a 4.13 ERA in 50 games (35 starts).

PAPI-LESS: The Red Sox are likely to be without Ortiz for the three-game set against the Orioles due to his four-game suspension for his involvement in a pair of bench-clearing incidents against Baltimore on July 8 at Fenway Park. Ortiz appealed his suspension and said he expects Major League Baseball will make its decision on Monday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- After throwing off flat ground Friday in Tampa, Josh Beckett said that as expected he will start Sunday’s game.

Beckett was removed from last Friday’s game against the Orioles after just five innings with what the team called a mildly hyperextended left knee. After being cleared to pitch in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, Beckett was scratched due to soreness in the knee.

Terry Francona had said on Thursday that he expected Beckett to start Sunday.

"I'm pretty confident he'll pitch Sunday," Francona said following the team’s Thursday workout. "If for some reason he can't, we'll back him up a couple days. I've got a feeling that's going to the worse-case scenario, which is good. I don't think that is going to happen."

PHOENIX -- Josh Beckett had no quarrel with Angels right-hander Jered Weaver being selected to start for the American League in the 82d All-Star Game, adding that he didn’t believe his hyperextended left knee was a factor in AL manager Ron Washington’s decision.

“I think Weaver’s got the credentials to start,’’ Beckett said of a pitcher who is 11-4 and whose 1.86 ERA in 19 starts is the lowest in the majors. “He should start.’’

Beckett was uncertain whether he would pitch Tuesday night, saying that he would inform Washington he is available and that the knee is a nonfactor.

“If he needs me, I think I can pitch,’’ Beckett said. “I don’t think it’s what everybody back in Boston wants, but if he needs me I can definitely pitch.’’

Does he want to pitch?

“Yeah,’’ he said. “I mean, it’s fun. The whole time is fun as well. You can enjoy your off-the-field stuff more if you know you’re not pitching, but I’m going into it thinking I’ll probably get an inning or two.

“I’m not worried about [the knee]. I went through my long toss and everything Sunday. I don’t think it’s an issue.’’

BOSTON -- Less than 24 hours after being removed from Friday’s game with a hyperextended left knee, Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett participated in his normal day-after routine Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.

The right-hander is also scheduled to throw a side session on Sunday and then he’ll be re-evaluated before a decision is made whether or not he’ll pitch in the All-Star game Tuesday in Phoenix.

“Obviously, not just for his start with us going forward, but the All-Star ramifications and we don’t want to hold up the league,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “He’ll go out tomorrow and throw a side and if he’s OK, he’s OK. If he needs to hold off, then we’ll do that also. We certainly respect the All-Star stuff, but we also have an obligation to our team. He understands that and he’ll be honest about it.”

BOSTON -- Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett was removed from Friday night’s game after the fifth inning for precautionary reasons with a hyperextended left knee.

The right-hander slipped on the wet rubber during the fifth inning and the game was halted so the grounds crew could place quick dry on the mound. Beckett finished the inning, but was replaced by reliever Matt Albers to start the sixth inning.

During his brief 68-pitch outing, Beckett allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

The Red Sox have already lost starters Jon Lester (lat strain), Clay Buchholz (back strain) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (Tommy John surgery), all of whom are on the disabled list. Also, John Lackey has been inconsistent since his trip to the DL with an elbow strain.