Ross on target to return to Red Sox on Monday

BOSTON -- David Ross was set to catch for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday for the second straight day, his final step before he receives clearance to join the Red Sox for their six-game West Coast road trip that begins Monday in San Francisco.

Though Ross is 1-for-12 thus far in his rehab assignment, that won't make the Red Sox hesitate to activate their invaluable backup catcher, who was sidelined with his second concussion of the season.

"Well, we fully expect the timing to be a work in progress, getting back to it," said manager John Farrell. "The fact that he'd be ready to go physically and get through consecutive [games of] nine innings of catching today, these are things that are all being considered. The one thing that we don't want to do is delay his return.

"Sixteen to 18 at-bats, that's going to be some to get his timing back. As long as there is no residual effect of the concussion coming out of today, we feel like it's time to get him back to us."

The return of Ross would be particularly beneficial for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who has had a heavy workload since Ross went down.