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Beckett looks to continue hot start upon return from DL

May 29, 2007 - 1:46 PM Cleveland (31-18) at Boston (35-15) 7:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) - Not that they needed the help, but the Boston Red Sox are getting back one of the best pitchers in the American League.

Josh Beckett returns from the disabled list Tuesday as the Red Sox continue a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians.

The Red Sox, whose 11 1/2-game division lead is more than double of any division leader, will send Beckett (7-0, 2.66 ERA) to the mound. The righthander, who had the most wins in the majors before going on the disabled list with a finger injury, was activated on Monday and will look to put his short history against the Indians aside.

Beckett is 0-2 with a 13.97 ERA in two starts - both last season - against Cleveland.

In the outing that led to his eventual 15-day absence, Beckett yielded two hits and two runs with seven strikeouts over four frames before tearing some skin on his right middle finger against Baltimore on May 13.

Jeremy Sowers (1-4, 6.29) will serve as the opposition and look to build on the success of his last outing, as he allowed one run over seven innings in a 10-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The lefthander had been winless and posted a 7.13 ERA in his eight previous starts.

Sowers did not factor into the decision in his only start against the Red Sox last season.

Curt Schilling worked seven strong innings as the Red Sox posted a 5-3 victory in the series opener Monday.