BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia, who was activated from the 10-day disabled list on Aug. 8 but played just one game before going back on the DL with recurring inflammation in his problematic left knee, is feeling "better by the day," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.
At this point, however, the second baseman will focus exclusively on strengthening exercises without a current timetable to resume baseball activities.
"Just more specific strengthening exercise that we feel like, with the information that he's received, the strengthening will help stabilize the knee a little bit more and hopefully reduce some of the impact and the overall volume, and that's what he's directly involved with right now -- the treatment and the strengthening," said Farrell.
After spending the minimum 10 days on the DL on his previous stint, Pedroia has been told to take a more conservative approach this time.
"Yeah, again, I don't have a return date," said Farrell. "This is going to be longer than the 10 days, for one. But we would certainly look to put him through a couple of work days of baseball activity more than we did previously, which everything [last time] kind of pointed to the way he felt coming out of the one work day. We'll see how this unfolds going forward."
Does Farrell have any inkling when Pedroia's activity will increase beyond the strengthening exercises?
"Hard to say at this point," said Farrell. "I do know he's feeling better by the day. Knowing Pedey, he's going to be out there as soon as he can. At this point, I can't give you an end date."
Worth noting
• When the Red Sox acquired Addison Reed from the Mets on July 31 at the non-wavier Trade Deadline, Farrell said that the right-hander would be the eighth-inning setup man. But Reed has had a couple of shaky appearances since joining the club, and Farrell said before Tuesday's game he will now mix and match between Reed and Matt Barnes when Boston has the lead in the eighth.
• Lefty David Price did a long-toss session on flat ground Tuesday after a day off on Monday. It is unknown when Price will throw off a mound for the first time since going back on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation on July 28.
"There's really no shortcuts to this, and I think along the way he's proving to himself as we move along here that that next step is inevitable," Farrell said. "I don't know when that would be, though."