LOS ANGELES -- Pitcher Red Patterson had his start at Triple-A Albuquerque moved from Sunday to Tuesday in case the Los Angeles Dodgers need him to step in for Josh Beckett, according to manager Don Mattingly.
Beckett, 34, has not missed a start since he was activated April 9, but he has had to skip between-starts bullpen sessions at times because of overall soreness.
Mattingly said Monday the team expects Beckett to be able to make his scheduled start Tuesday, but the Dodgers wanted Patterson to be lined up in case Beckett needs to sit out a start in the coming weeks.
“Josh is always the guy that, in between starts, we worry about, because he battles every time to get ready for the next one,” Mattingly said.
Beckett has pitched two consecutive seven-inning shutouts and has thrown 93⅔ innings this season. He pitched the season's first no-hitter on May 25. His 2.11 ERA trails only Johnny Cueto and Adam Wainwright among qualified NL pitchers.
“He’s got 2,000 big league innings,” Mattingly said. “Obviously, he’s a guy who’s got a little bit of mileage on him.”
Mattingly also said Hanley Ramirez, who strained a calf muscle Sunday, doesn’t appear to be headed for the disabled list. Ramirez, who also is dealing with an arthritic right shoulder, has played just three innings in the past week. The Dodgers are 5-1 in that span.
