Boston Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett won't be facing the Yankees on Tuesday after skipping a bullpen session yesterday because of continued numbness and tingling in his pitching arm.

Manager Terry Francona said Beckett has "inflammation" in his elbow and likely won't start again until Friday, when the Red Sox return home to open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, out since Aug. 7 with tightness behind his right shoulder, threw in the bullpen yesterday and will come off the disabled list to start Tuesday when the Red Sox begin their final regular-season series at Yankee Stadium. Wakefield is 7-8 with a 3.67 ERA in 23 starts.

"It's gotten better," he said. "We had the one day [Friday] where it kind of came back. That's why we decided to do what we did. It has gotten better. The treatment and stuff is definitely working."

Francona intends to be "overly cautious" with Beckett, who is 11-9 with a 4.34 ERA in 23 starts.

"We're talking about a guy's pitching arm," Francona said. "Let's make sure it's perfect."

Joba Chamberlain threw 35 pitches off the mound, giving the New York hope the right-hander will soon recover from the rotator cuff tendinitis that put him on the 15-day disabled list earlier this month.

Meanwhile, shortstop Derek Jeter is honored to be part of an exclusive club with Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.

Jeter got his 2,500th hit Friday night, joining Gehrig (2,721) and Ruth (2,518) as the only players to reach the mark with the Yankees.

"Anytime your name is with someone like Gehrig and Ruth, it's pretty special," Jeter said.