Beckett's Next Start Pushed Back

Josh Beckett's next start is being pushed back two days to give him more time to work on his recent problems.

The right-hander will start for Boston on Friday night in Detroit, while knuckleballer Tim Wakefield takes Beckett's spot Wednesday at home against Toronto, Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said Monday night. The Red Sox are off Thursday.

Farrell said the switch gives Beckett an extra side session on Tuesday.

Beckett is 1-1 with a 7.46 ERA in seven starts and has allowed at least seven earned runs in three of his last four outings. In a 10-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Friday night, he gave up nine runs in 5 1-3 innings. Six of them scored in the sixth when Beckett hit two batters with pitches.

Beckett was 17-6 with a 3.86 ERA last year.

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