Josh Beckett periodically skips bullpen sessions to keep rested

By Jon Weisman

While tonight’s start by Josh Beckett was never really in doubt, the Dodgers have taken measures to have a Plan B in case he needs to skip a start going forward.

Recently, the Dodgers adjusted the schedule of Albuquerque starting pitcher Red Patterson, who allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings of a spot start against the Mets in May, to make sure it lined up with that of Beckett, who is scheduled for two more starts after tonight before the All-Star Break.

Beckett has no specific ailments right now, but as happens with an everyday player (most infamously, I suppose, Mike Marshall), “general soreness” can catch up with you.

“Josh is always the guy that in between starts we worry about,” Dodger manager Don Mattingly said Monday. “He just kind of battles every time to get ready for the next one.”

Beckett has frequently described the way he feels after a start as “like being hit by a truck.”

Said Mattingly: “He’s got over 2,000 innings on him. There’s time he doesn’t throw his bullpens. Any guy who’s got a little mileage on him, we’ve got to pay attention.”

Mattingly said that frankly, he hasn’t noticed an effect on Beckett’s performance when he skips a bullpen session. After missing most of last season with thoracic outlet syndrome, Beckett has a no-hitter and 2.11 ERA for the Dodgers in 2014, as well as 14 consecutive scoreless innings (the Dodgers as a team have 24).

“Josh is a guy in the past who threw a lot of pitches in the bullpen, even before a game,” Mattingly said. “I think it just kind of came to the point where he’s cutting back and trusting his stuff, being more thrifty with the number of pitches he’s throwing in all areas.”