OAKLAND — Outfielder J.D. Drew, who missed the first two regular-season games in Japan, won’t play in the third one, either, but he is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow in the series finale here.

Drew, who pulled out of the season-opener in Tokyo because of a stiff lower back, hasn’t played since. He missed the entire three-game exhibition set in Los Angeles last weekend, but reported improvement yesterday.

Still, mindful that Drew wasn’t perhaps strong enough to play both games against the A’s, Sox manager Terry Francona said yesterday that he would use Drew tomorrow afternoon against Rich Harden.

“I didn’t like missing Opening Day in Japan,” said Drew, “but I couldn’t help the circumstances. I’m maybe not 100 percent, but I’m well enough to go out and play and not aggravate it.”

Drew said the timing of the setback was particularly frustrating because he was swinging so well leading up to the opener, having hit two homers and knocked in seven runs in two exhibition games in Tokyo.

“I was in a good rhythm,” said Drew, “but I didn’t want to [worsen it]. I’ve had [back problems] there before and I missed a lot of time.”

When Drew gets back into the lineup tomorrow, it will be his first look at live pitching in about 10 days, and he expects some adjustments.

“I haven’t seen a lot of pitching in a while,” he acknowledged. “I’ll just take it an at-bat at a time and keep it simple.”

With Drew out tonight, Francona will go with Coco Crisp in center field and Jacoby Ellsbury in right.

smcadam@projo.com