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

Now that the right-hander's back is feeling better, Beckett will start on Saturday against the Indians at Fenway Park. If he doesn't suffer a setback, that will put him in line to 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 today."

He was convinced this won't be a problem that 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. It's not like I felt something while I was throwing. You wake up and you're locked up," said Beckett.

An extra few days isn't such a bad thing this time of the season, 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. I was sitting in the trainer's room yesterday morning trying to loosen my back up. We do the things we need to do. I feel better today," Beckett said.

-- JOE McDONALD