Josh Beckett dealing with 'general soreness' but OK for Tuesday start

LOS ANGELES -- Josh Beckett has made a remarkable recovery thus far in 2014, and is making a push for an All-Star Game berth. But the long road back has been full of bumps and bruises, leaving the Dodgers concerned about the 34-year-old right-hander.

The Dodgers over the weekend had Triple-A Albuquerque skip the scheduled start on Sunday of Red Patterson, just in case the team needed him to replace Beckett, who is scheduled to start for the Dodgers against the Indians on Tuesday.

Despite the initial concern, the Dodgers expect Beckett to make his start on Tuesday.

"Josh is always a guy that, in between starts, we worry about," manager Don Mattingly said before Monday's game at Dodger Stadium. "He battles every time to get ready for the next one. We just wanted to be sure we were lined up."

Beckett has been a revelation this season, at 5-4 with a 2.11 ERA that currently ranks third in the National League. He has 88 strikeouts against 28 walks in 93⅔ innings, threw a no-hitter on May 25, and has an active string of 14 consecutive scoreless innings.

In eight of his 15 starts this season, Beckett has allowed zero or one run.

Not bad for a pitcher who had surgery in 2013 to relieve nerve pressure caused by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The procedure involved removing one of Beckett's ribs. But the 14-year veteran isn't suffering any ill effects from the surgery nor is he having any arm problems.

Mattingly chalked it up to Beckett's odometer having over 2,000 innings (he's at 2,029 career innings and counting).

"There are times he doesn't throw his bullpen," Mattingly said. "He's got hip stuff that he deals with. It's just been general stuff, nothing in particular. Nothing about surgery or his arm. Just general soreness."