Josh Beckett heading to disabled list

By Jon Weisman

Amid his banner comeback season, there’s been increasing concern about general wear and tear on Josh Beckett, concern that was only exacerbated when he went aggravated his left hip on the basepaths Sunday in Colorado.

Today, the Dodgers announced that Beckett is heading the disabled list with a left hip impingement. Because of the All-Star Break, Beckett might miss only one scheduled start, the one Saturday at home against San Diego. Assuming the Dodgers reset their rotation after the break, Beckett could return to make a start July 22 at Pittsburgh.

Beckett has a 2.26 ERA, fourth in the Major Leagues, in 103 2/3 innings with 95 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings against 111 baserunners. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 17 starts this season, though he has been credit with only five victories in those 13 games (6-5 overall).

Since throwing 128 pitches in his May 25 no-hitter at Philadelphia, Beckett has only lowered his ERA, throwing 48 innings in eight starts with a 2.06 ERA and 43 strikeouts against 52 baserunners. He has been held below 100 pitches in six of those eight starts, with a max of 107 while throwing seven shutout innings against the Cardinals on June 7.

Oddly, Beckett also has three doubles in his past two games at the plate, his first doubles since 2007 and 25 percent of his career total.

For at least the short term, Pedro Baez has been called up from Triple-A Albuquerque and will be on the active roster in Detroit today. Baez has a 4.50 ERA and 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings against a 1.31 WHIP in 16 innings with the Isotopes, after beginning 2014 with Double-A Chattanooga (19 1/3 innings, 2.79 ERA, 8.4 K/9, 1.24 WHIP).

The converted third baseman made his only MLB appearance May 5 at Washington, allowing a single and a home run before striking out two.

Though nothing’s been set, Red Patterson has been mentioned most frequently as the player who would make a spot start in place of Beckett — in this case on Saturday against San Diego. Patterson, who allowed seven runs on 11 baserunners in five innings against Las Vegas on Sunday, has a 5.15 ERA with 72 strikeouts against 128 baserunners in 85 2/3 innings for Albuquerque. Patterson went 4 2/3 innings for the Dodgers in the second game of a May 1 doubleheader in Minnesota, allowing one run on two hits and three walks with one strikeout.

Trivia: Las Vegas is averaging 6.4 runs per game in 2014. The Padres are averaging 3.0 runs per game.