During the Red Sox' game against the White Sox, the team announced the third baseman was battling a stiff back. Just two hours before Monday's game against the Atheltics, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine expected Youkilis to return.
"Youk says he's ready," Valentine said. "I talked to him about 3 [p.m.], [he] said he was going to get a little rubdown — should be fine. He was feeling all right [Sunday], and then in batting practice it just locked up on him, his back."
Valentine has inserted Nick Punto in the lineup at third base. Punto will hit last.
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