Pedroia anticipated to rejoin Sox over weekend

TORONTO -- Dustin Pedroia didn't make the trip to Toronto with the Red Sox, but he will join the team at some point during their three-game weekend series against the Blue Jays.

Pedroia missed Thursday's contest against the Yankees to join his wife, Kelli, who gave birth to the couple's second son.

"He will see us in Toronto. I doubt it would be tonight [Friday]," Valentine said about his All-Star second baseman.

"They are doing well, mom and baby are doing well. I don't know about Dustin -- no baseball and no sleep."

Despite the difficult year the Red Sox have had, Pedroia has turned in another strong season and has been especially hot of late.

Pedroia has hit safely in all but three of 35 games since Aug. 5, batting a Major League-best .381 over that stretch. In the process, he has raised his average from .262 to .295. His 15 doubles and .434 on-base percentage are also tops in baseball since Aug. 5, while he ranks among the top five American League leaders in hits (53), total bases (88), extra-base hits (22), slugging (.633), OPS (1.067) and runs (26) during that period of time.

Valentine doesn't think the time away will affect Pedroia.

"He'll be back. Dustin will be back, we know that," Valentine said.