BOSTON -- How are things going for Dustin Pedroia on his latest Minor League rehab assignment?

Pretty well so far. Pedroia will give his problematic left knee a big test starting on Saturday, when he is set to play three straight days for Double-A Portland. If Pedroia has no setbacks after playing the three days, the Red Sox will map out what is next for him.

The second baseman went 4-for-16 in the five games he played with Portland from May 2-9.

“I texted with him yesterday. He feels fine,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He’s actually very happy with the swing. I don’t know the numbers, whatever, but he feels like he’s been able to catch up with some fastballs. Actually, there’s more velo in Double-A than Triple-A.

“In Double-A, there’s guys that throw harder with better stuff. But he feels good. Defensively he’s fine. He’s moving well. He’s been running the bases too. He went first to third the other day and he’s been reacting well to it. No setbacks.”

After playing just three games last season following major surgery on his knee, Pedroia was activated for Boston’s home opener this season on April 9. He played just six games before suffering a setback. Pedroia has been hitting with a specially-fitted brace while with Portland and the hope is that it will alleviate some of the discomfort he was feeling in his knee.

Price check

Lefty David Price played catch for the third time in the last four days, and there’s still a chance he can return to the rotation at some point next week. Price was placed on the injured list earlier this week with tendinitis in his left elbow, retroactive to May 3.

“He feels a lot better,” Cora said. “It seems like he's in a good place. We'll sit down with David. He's a guy that I trust as far as he knows himself, and he knows what he needs to do to be ready to compete at that level. We'll see how he reacts today, how he feels, and talk to him.”

At some point before he is activated, Price will have to throw off the mound.

“Obviously we want him to throw in between whenever, a bullpen or two, and go from there,” Cora said. “We'll sit down with him and we'll listen to what he has to say, how he feels, and be smart. But we've got two days off coming, too, on Monday and Thursday, so that plays into what we're trying to accomplish.”

Worth noting

• Brock Holt, who is coming back from a scratched cornea in his right eye and a right shoulder impingement, could start a Minor League rehab assignment at some point this weekend.

• Lefty Brian Johnson is also closing in on a rehab assignment. The swingman will throw a bullpen session prior to Saturday afternoon’s game against the Mariners. Johnson was placed on the injured list April 6 with inflammation in his left shoulder.