The Boston Red Sox have had numerous issues to begin the 2012 season, one of them being starting pitching, although they righted their ship somewhat with a recent six-game winning streak during which they allowed 19 total runs.
Daisuke Matsuzaka Solid In Double-A Rehab Start; Triple-A Next
But every team can use more pitching, which is why it has to be encouraging to Boston management that Daisuke Matsuzaka had a solid rehab start for Double-A Portland on Saturday:
In his second rehab start since coming back from Tommy John surgery on his elbow, Matsuzaka was in command throughout, challenging hitters with a fastball that touched 93 mph and an assortment of off-speed stuff that baffled the Phillies.
He threw 74 pitches, 44 for strikes, and went to a three-ball count on only three of the 17 batters he faced. Matsuzaka, who has frustrated Boston fans with a couple of uneven seasons, allowed only three hits, walked two and struck out seven.
According to this Boston Globe article, Dice-K will make his third rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket; he’s expected to make five rehab starts in all, which would mean it could be mid- to late-May before he’s back pitching in Boston.
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