Sorry for no morning blog (slept in before Church) ...

Just talked to reliever Daniel Bard, who was in Boston Saturday getting his back looked at. He said he is returning to Boston Tuesday for more tests. Bard said it was just precautionary (they want to rule out a stress fracture in his ribs) and it appears to be some kind of muscle pull.

"It's already feeling better," Bard said. He has not pitched since last Tuesday's doubleheader. Bard has a 1.99 ERA and has not allowed an earned run in his last 17 2/3 innings.

Bard might be ready for the playoffs, assuming the Sea Dogs make it (magic number: 1), but the Red Sox are likely to be very cautious.

First baseman Lars Anderson is going to Boston with Bard on Tuesday to get his wrist looked at. Anderson has been playing (he's the DH today) with a case of tendinitis. He said he has good days and bad days with it, so the Red Sox want a more in-depth look.

One Sea Dogs roster move: Pitcher Dave Gassner has been activated, replacing Miguel Asencio, who was sent to pitching-thin Pawtucket.

According to media reports in Boston, pitcher Michael Bowden is headed back to Pawtucket, to make room for outfielder Jon Van Every.

A (very) quick look at the minors from Saturday: Dusty Brown (.295) went 3-for-4 for Pawtucket ... Blake Maxwell (3.32) pitched well for Lancaster (7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K) ... Oscar Tejeda (2.63) went 3-for-4 for Greenville, with two home runs.

Now for the lineups for the Red Sox and Sea Dogs:

RED SOX
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Jed Lowrie 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Mark Kotsay, RF
Jason Bay, LF
Jeff Bailey, 1B
Alex Cora, SS
Kevin Cash, C
(Tim Wakefield, P)

SEA DOGS
Argenis Diaz, SS
Jorge Jimenez, 3B
Zach Daeges, LF
Aaron Bates, 1B
Lars Anderson, DH
John Otness, C
Josh Rddick, CF
Iggy Suarez, 2B
Mickey Hall, RF
(Ryne Lawson, P)

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