SEATTLE -- Josh Beckett will return from the disabled list Saturday to start the third game of the Red Sox' West Coast trip.
It will be Beckett's first appearance since losing a 4-1 decision to the Miami Marlins on June 11. Five days later, the Sox announced that he would not make his next scheduled start -- set for June 17 at Wrigley Field -- because of shoulder inflammation.
Beckett was then placed on the DL, retroactively to June 12.
The Sox elected not to have Beckett make any rehab appearances, so other than some side sessions, Beckett hasn't pitched in more than two and a half weeks.
"If he's healthy, I expect a good performance,'' said Bobby Valentine. "It seems like he's very healthy. He has good spirits. Josh is a great pitcher. Expect him to go out there and give us a good outing. It's hard for me to tell (how he'll do). I think he's better than he was. And he was pretty good when he stopped pitching.''
Actually, Beckett had lost his last three starts prior to being placed on the DL, tying a career high. In those starts, Beckett had a 4.09 ERA and struck out only 11 in his last 22 innings.
Valentine was unsure how long Beckett would be allowed to go.
"I'll discuss it with (pitching coach) Bob McClure,'' said Valentine. "I'm not sure.''
The Sox must make a roster move to make room for Beckett's activation. The most logical move would be to return Clayton Mortensen to Pawtucket. Mortensen was promoted when Beckett was placed on the DL.
The rehabilitation assignments for outfielders Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury continued Friday in Fort Myers, home of the Red Sox' Gulf Coast League affiliate.
Crawford played the outfield and was 0-for-2 with a run and two walks. In four games to date, Crawford has gone 2-for-11 with a double, two runs scored and five walks.
Meanwhile, Jacoby Ellsbury played the first game of his assignment, serving as the DH. Ellsbury was 1-for-4 with a double and a walk, and according to Valentine, "got through his performance without incident.''
With just nine games remaining before the All-Star break, it's highly unlikely either player will be activated by the Sox until the start of the second half of the season.
Eventually, Crawford will be moved up to play at a higher level of competition, but Valentine said the pair are "staying (at Fort Myers) for now.''
Outfielder Ryan Sweeney, who, like Beckett, was placed on the disabled list when the Sox were in Chicago, is making some progress after suffering from inflammation of his left big toe.
Sweeney was in a walking cast for a while, but the last few days, has ramped up his baseball activity and is walking around without the boot.
"He looked great,'' reported Valentine, who watched Sweeney on the field at Safeco Field Friday. "His calf's botherng him just a little but he had a really good batting practice.''