Worth noting

• Right-hander Clay Buchholz (right bursa sac strain) worked mostly on mechanics during a light throwing session Monday, and was scheduled to throw a full bullpen session before Tuesday's game in Toronto. If that goes well, Buchholz will likely throw a simulated game at Fenway Park over the weekend, perhaps his final step needed before being sent out on a Minor League rehab assignment.

• Backup catcher David Ross continued his rehab from a concussion at Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday.

"He will catch hopefully five to six innings tonight with Pawtucket, get three at-bats," said Farrell. "Likely DH tomorrow and then as he gets back behind the plate, there will be increased number of innings caught, to the point of catching back-to-back games, by the end of the week."

The plan remains for Ross to be activated by the Red Sox on Monday, when they open a West Coast trip in San Francisco.

• Lefty Matt Thornton is making progress from the right oblique strain that has sidelined him since Aug. 5.

"He threw flat ground today after he threw long toss," Farrell said. "No symptoms in the oblique that he's been dealing with, so he's advancing pretty good given our first initial thought when he first walked off the mound."

Thornton, who is eligible to return on Aug. 20, will pitch in a Minor League game or two before he is activated.

"I think with that injury you have to get back to full speed in some setting so he's not, one, tentative, and two, we don't prolong it by not testing it initially," Farrell said.