Any time a pitcher is led from the mound with an apparent elbow injury, you have to hold your breath. But the early prognosis on Daisuke Matsuzaka — who left Friday night’s game in the fifth inning — is positive, as ESPNBoston.com’s Steve Krasner reports:
Dice-K’s Elbow Injury Considered Minor, Might Start Wednesday
“I think we think he’ll be OK for his next start,” said Francona. “We’ll check him out.”
“I have an idea what’s going on with my elbow right now so I’m not too worried about it,” said Matsuzaka through a translator. “That kind of tightness happens sometimes. I don’t really pay attention to it.”
We’ll see. If Matsuzaka’s not able to make his next scheduled start, Wednesday night against the Angels, Tim Wakefield would be the obvious replacement. But if Dice-K’s injury forces him to the Disabled List, management might be tempted to promote a starter from Triple-A.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any great candidates in Pawtucket. Alfredo Aceves has a 5.62 ERA. Felix Doubront has pitched well, but in just six innings. Reclamation project Andrew Miller has a 1.42 ERA in four starts, but with as many walks as strikeouts. All things considered, the PawSox’s best starter has probably been 35-year-old Brandon Duckworth … and it’s hard to imagine him taking the Fenway Park mound.
Hey, maybe Wakefield will get his shot at Cy Young and Roger Clemens after all.
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