BOSTON — After Josh Beckett was scratched from his scheduled start on Monday due to back spasms, manager Terry Francona wasn't sure when the club's ace would be able to pitch.

But now that the right-hander's back is feeling better, Beckett's on pace to pitch Saturday against the Indians at Fenway Park. If he doesn't suffer a setback, he'll start Game Two of the ALDS.

Beckett said Tuesday afternoon he's feeling a lot better. He thinks the stiffness was a result of the club's recent travel.

"With crappy beds on the road and getting in at 5 o'clock in the morning, I don't think all that stuff set well with my back," said Beckett. "It's unfortunate you wake up on the day you're starting and you don't feel well enough to do that. I think we made the right decision and I feel a lot better [Tuesday]."

He was convinced this won't be a problem and said he's looking forward to his next outing on Saturday.

"Absolutely I think I'll make my next start," he said. "If I had to I could probably go sooner if I needed to, but I don't think we're going to need that."

A year ago at this time, Beckett suffered an oblique strain and pitched through the pain in the postseason. This time around it's not that serious.

"It was so much different because it was something you wake up with," he said. "It's not like I felt something while I was throwing. You wake up and you're locked up."

An extra few days isn't such a bad thing this time of year, especially on the verge of the postseason. Sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise.

"Obviously you want it to be under different conditions if you were taking a break," Beckett said.

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Beckett isn't the only player who'll be resting in the season's final week.

"We'll try to manage that last few days to put our team in the best light possible," said Francona. "Whether it's scaling the starters back, making sure the bullpen innings are managed more in quantity as opposed to need. Things like that."

Jason Bay played in his 147th game of the season Tuesday and is looking forward to a break.

"You want to get your legs back under you, but at the same time you don't want to get rusty. It's a fine line," said Bay. "Myself, personally, I'd like maybe a day or two off and then get some regular at-bats. The last thing you want to do is to go into the playoffs and have to flip the switch. A day or two for everyone around here would help."

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The Red Sox added reliever Fernando Cabrera to the active roster in time for Tuesday night's game. To create a spot on the 40-man roster, the club recalled first baseman Aaron Bates from Pawtucket and instantly placed him on the 60-day disabled list because of a left ankle sprain.

Cabrera is the 37th active player on the roster.

Both Cabrera and Bates ended the season with the PawSox and were told to stay in shape in case the Red Sox needed them this month. Francona said Bates "rolled an ankle doing some agility stuff," about a week ago. He was examined on Monday in Boston.

Cabrera was home in Puerto Rico on Monday but received an urgent phone call at about 1 a.m. The Sox told him to pack his bags and catch a 6 a.m. flight to Boston.

"I was home, but they told me to keep playing catch and running in case they have a situation happen. I'm ready. It's good to be back here," said Cabrera, who pitched in four games (allowing two earned runs) earlier in the year. He enjoyed an All-Star season in Pawtucket, where he saved 22 games and compiled a 1.71 ERA in 43 games.

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Nick Green worked out hard before the game and said he felt encouraged about getting back on the field in a game by the weekend.

"I'm doing a lot of things I couldn't do before," said Green. "I'd like to play by Friday."

Green complained of a "dead leg" feeling in his right leg about a week ago. Tests revealed a disc in his back pushing up against a nerve. After extensive treatment, Green has made some major progress and he hopes to be strong enough physically to show Francona that he can be the team's backup middle infielder in the playoffs.

"I think we'll know by Friday or Saturday. That's a target date I have," Green said.

With several more days of rest next week, the hope is that Green is indeed ready for the playoffs. If not, the Sox will likely turn to Jed Lowrie, another player they hope to get into the lineup over the next few days.

"The big thing now is how much he can tolerate and how quickly he fatigues. That's been the biggest thing. He's been fatiguing real fast," said Francona. "What we'll do is play him when we think it's realistic and where we're not gambling on a setback."

kmcnamar@projo.com