MLB News: Red Sox Lose Matsuzaka for at least a month

Friday, May 20, 2011

By Bodog Sportsbook

 The Boston Red Sox desperately need starting pitching, as both John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka are on the 15-day disabled list. Lackey should be back fairly soon, but now come reports that Dice-K has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament and strained flexor and will miss at least a month.

That type of injury when severe enough often results in Tommy John tendon transfer surgery, which means 12-18 months of rehab. The Red Sox are hoping that Matsuzaka will be able to avoid the surgery and that he will respond to rehabilitation. The right-hander will be re-examined in two weeks.

Matsuzaka said he first experienced discomfort on April 29 in a start against the Seattle Mariners, a game in which he was pulled in the fifth inning because of what manager Terry Francona called a stiff elbow after the game. Dice-K has struggled this season, going 3-3 with a 5.30 ERA. His body has broken down each of the past two seasons after winning a career-high 18 games in 2008.

Because the Red Sox are a bit desperate for starters, the club is looking into signing free agent Kevin Millwood. The 36-year-old signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees and spent April in their system, going 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA. But when the Yankees didn't add him to their major-league roster on May 1, Millwood used an opt-out clause in his contract and went home. In 14 seasons with five clubs in the big leagues, Millwood is 159-137 with a career 4.11 ERA. But he looked done last year, going 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA with the Orioles.

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boston red sox - daisuke matsuzaka - john lackey - kevin millwood - terry francona