FORT MYERS, Fla. — Time is running out on Josh Beckett's slim chance of traveling to Tokyo to pitch in Boston's first two regular-season games.

The Red Sox ace who led the majors with 20 wins last year has yet to pitch in a regular exhibition game, and his back injury might keep him from doing that. Plus, sitting on a plane for the long flight to Japan next Wednesday wouldn't be very comfortable.

"The one thing we're not going to do is send him over there to pitch three innings and hurt his back," manager Terry Francona said yesterday.

The Red Sox have two exhibition games against Japanese teams before facing the Oakland Athletics in regular-season games March 25 and 26.

Beckett hasn't been able to stretch since he felt back spasms while throwing his first warmup pitch before Saturday's game against the Florida Marlins, Francona said. The right-hander threw six warmup pitches and left before the game started.

Tests showed the injury was muscular.

"I don't think we know (for sure) yet" whether Beckett will pitch in Japan, ESPN.com quoted Francona as saying. "But we're certainly not going to rush him back to pitch a game March 24 if he's not ready. And I think if you look at it with common sense, he's not going to pitch over there."

No decision has been made on whether Beckett will go to Japan, spokesman John Blake said.