"The Red Sox' two best starters, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, are lined up to start the first two games of a nine-game, interleague road series that begins in Pittsburgh tomorrow night.

Unfortunately, a lingering "good old-fashioned case of the flu," in the words of manager Terry Francona, is keeping Beckett's availability uncertain.

The right-hander already had to be scratched from Tuesday's start because of the illness.

"I'm not sure. He's really sick, doctors are trying to figure out. I have not seen him this morning, but he wasn't good (Tuesday) again," Francona said of Beckett after yesterday's rain-shortened 5-1 loss to the Padres. "We're going to have to play this by ear."

A decision about Beckett will likely be made by today, an off day. One option would be to start Andrew Miller, who pitched on Monday. Miller threw a shorter side than usual yesterday just in case. Alfredo Aceves, who pitched on Tuesday in place of Beckett, could not go again earlier than Sunday, which is when Tim Wakefield is scheduled to start.

Beckett's illness is not an isolated case as viruses have recently been sweeping through the clubhouse. Kevin Youkilis had to leave a game earlier in the homestand, and about half an hour before first pitch yesterday, shortstop Marco Scutaro was scratched due to illness.

After the game, Francona said that Scutaro was feeling "a little better." It was too early, however, to get a read on his availability in Pittsburgh.

"We don't play tomorrow, he won't miss the game tomorrow and we'll go from there," Francona said.

Drew Sutton replaced Scutaro at shortstop and in the No.?7 spot in the batting order. Francona said he is comfortable using Sutton as the utility infielder with shortstop Jed Lowrie out indefinitely. Yamaico Navarro, currently in Triple-A Pawtucket, will be another option in the utility role when he gets over an oblique injury."