David Ortiz (heel) could return to play in the series against the Rangers that begins Monday. Ortiz had been slated to wear a walking boot all weekend before resuming his rehab Monday, but he was able to take the boot off Saturday and go through a round of batting practice. "It was good,'' Ortiz said. "I'm feeling better. I hope to do it again [Sunday] and then we'll see what happens.'' Red Sox manager Terry Francona was also encouraged. "He does feel good. We'll start that progression. That's really good news,'' Francona said. "I don't think you can put an exact timetable when these things happen.''

David Ortiz (heel) will remove his walking boot and take batting practice on Saturday. It was reported within the last hour that Ortiz would need to wear the boot through the weekend before resuming his rehab from right heel bursitis, but that is evidently not so. Apparently ahead of schedule, it now appears more likely that Ortiz won't need a stint on the disabled list.

Although he said his heel is feeling better, David Ortiz is unsure whether he'll be ready to play during the Red Sox' eight-game road trip that conclude next Thursday. The Red Sox might as well play it safe and just DL Ortiz, as there's no point in rushing him back when they have a playoff spot already virtually locked up. He'll have missed 11 days of action if he's not able to play by next Thursday, so the Sox could just make a retroactive DL move and bring Papi back on August 30 if he's ready.

David Ortiz's sore right heel could soon send him to the disabled list. Ortiz last played on Sunday. Although his injury is not expected to get any worse, the Red Sox may opt to play things safe with an 8.5 game lead in the American League wild-card race and place their 35-year-old DH on the disabled list. At the very least, you shouldn't expect to have him this weekend.

David Ortiz (heel) said Wednesday that he hopes to miss "no more than a week." Ortiz is currently sidelined with right heel bursitis and will wear a walking boot for the next few days. However, it is not expected to be a lingering issue. The veteran slugger hopes to play at some point during Boston's upcoming eight-game road trip, which concludes next Thursday.

David Ortiz (heel) is out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Rays. Ortiz is currently dealing with right heel bursitis and will wear a walking boot for the next few days, but the Red Sox aren't close to placing him on the disabled list. Adrian Gonzalez will serve as the designated hitter Wednesday while Kevin Youkilis starts at first base and Jed Lowrie plays third.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said David Ortiz (heel) will wearing a walking boot for a few days. The manager doesn't, however, expect Big Papi to need a trip to the disabled list. Ortiz was scratched from the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with right heel bursitis and it sounds like we won't see him until at least this weekend.

David Ortiz was held out of Tuesday afternoon's lineup due to right heel bursitis. It was originally reported that Ortiz was sick, but that's not the case. He is considered day-to-day and will sit out the second half of Tuesday's doubleheader.

David Ortiz was scratched from the first half of Tuesday's doubleheader due to an illness. Jed Lowrie will serve as Boston's designated hitter in the afternoon tilt with the Rays. Ortiz probably won't feel well enough to return to action for the night game.

David Ortiz went 2-for-5 and hit his 24th homer Friday in Boston's 6-4 victory in Seattle. Jed Lowrie and Josh Reddick also homered for the Red Sox in the victory. Ortiz has 11 hits, including three homers and a couple of doubles, in his last five games. He's up to sixth in the AL with 79 RBI, and he'd surely be higher if not for interleague play and last month's three-game suspension costing him nine or 10 starts.