Josh Beckett has been scratched from his start on Monday against the Blue Jays due to mild back spasms, NESN’s Heidi Watney reports.
Beckett (16-6, 3.78 ERA) last pitched on Wednesday in Kansas City, pitching six innings and giving up just two earned runs and striking out seven.
Making the start in place of Beckett is Michael Bowden (0-0, 7.84 ERA), who last pitched Friday night in New York. In that appearance, the 23-year-old struck out the side in the fifth but struggled in the sixth, giving up two walks and two hits to the meat of the Yankees’ order.
Bowden has just one career start, which came on Aug. 30, 2008. Bowden pitched five innings, giving up just two runs and earning his only career win.
