M’s hoping Bedard can face Red Sox

NEW YORK – Erik Bedard is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today, and the team hopes he can get up to around 55 or 60 pitches. If that’s the case, they figure he could throw 60 pitches in a start and get through roughly four frames at Fenway Park.

Frankly, four innings of Bedard can be better than five innings of Garrett Olson. You bring in the Chris Jakubauskas “piggyback” rescue after that and possibly Shawn Kelley before getting around to the late-inning arms if the M’s have a lead.

Yes, Seattle wanted to build Bedard’s arm back up to go five or six innings. But this is a critical test coming up against New York and Boston and then back at home again, concluding with four games against the Texas Rangers. After that, there’s a lot of time to get Bedard and everyone else some rest during the All-Star break.

If he pitches Saturday, Bedard could potentially be ready to go five innings or more against the Texas Rangers later in the week.

Notes

Adrian Beltre underwent successful surgery Tuesday, where bone spurs were removed from his left shoulder. There was no additional damage to the rotator cuff, though the bursa sack was inflamed. That inflammation should subside now.

Manager Don Wakamatsu said this could lead to an accelerated return to action for Beltre.

“We’re hoping,” he said. “We’re still looking six to eight weeks, but maybe, if everything goes well, we can bring him up here a little bit quicker than that.”

The M’s added newly acquired outfielder Ryan Langerhans to the roster and sent catcher Jamie Burke to Tacoma. Langerhans was traded from Washington to Seattle for infielder Mike Morse.

•Yuniesky Betancourt is feeling much better these days, and Wakamatsu said he could possibly be reactivated by next week’s homestand.