Daisuke Matsuzaka

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff PHILADELPHIA — Daisuke Matsuzaka will not be returning to the Red Sox any time soon. The righthander, whose minor league rehabilitation assignment was due to end on Wednesday, has been shut down because of pain in his right trapezius muscle. Matsuzaka received an injection in the area. "That's been nagging him for quite a while and we've got to make sure that that's 100 percent before he's going out there again," manager Bobby Valentine said.

Daisuke Matsuzaka , who was shut down last Sunday because of a sore neck, has been cleared to pitch and is scheduled to start for Triple A Pawtucket Saturday. Matsuzaka will face Toledo in a 6:05 p.m. game at McCoy Stadium. Matsuzaka started the season on the disabled list recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery he had last June. He started a rehabilitation assignment April 23 and did not pitch particularly well in five starts, posting a 4.62 earned run average. That 30-day assignment was set to end Wednesday.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff PHILADELPHIA — David Ortiz said he will be playing first base tomorrow. As for tonight, Bobby Valentine laughed and said that Big Papi is "so available. " Ortiz is hoping to get a shot at Jonathan Papelbon. "He can't get a fastball by me," Ortiz said. As to other matters: ߦ Daisuke Matsuzaka felt good about his outing for Triple A Pawtucket on Thursday night (6.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) because he pitched into the seventh inning and threw 95 pitches.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff And suddenly Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to pitch. The Red Sox announced moments ago that Daisuke Matsuzaka will pitch for Pawtucket on Saturday night against Toledo. Matsuzaka was nearing the end of a 30-day minor league injury rehabilitation assignment when the Red Sox said last Saturday that he had pain in his right trapezius muscle and had received a cortisone injection. That ended his rehabilitation stint and allowed the Red Sox to keep the righthander on the disabled list.

PHILADELPHIA - Daisuke Matsuzaka will not be returning to the Red Sox any time soon. The righthander, whose minor league rehabilitation assignment was due to end Wednesday, has been shut down because of pain in his right trapezius muscle, located in the upper back. Matsuzaka received an injection Sunday. "That's been nagging him for quite a while and we've got to make sure that that's 100 percent before he's going out there again," manager Bobby Valentine said. "I talked to him [Saturday]

Daisuke Matsuzaka , who was shut down last Sunday because of a sore neck, has been cleared to pitch and is scheduled to start for Triple A Pawtucket Saturday. Matsuzaka will face Toledo in a 6:05 p.m. game at McCoy Stadium. Matsuzaka started the season on the disabled list recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery he had last June. He started a rehabilitation assignment April 23 and did not pitch particularly well in five starts, posting a 4.62 earned run average. That 30-day assignment was set to end Wednesday.

The Boston Red Sox placed outfielder Cody Ross on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and activated Kevin Youkilis, who was on the DL with a strained lower back. Ross has a small fractured bone in his left foot. The injury occurred when he fouled a ball of his foot in Friday night's game against Philadelphia. General manager Ben Cherington said Monday that Ross could be sidelined for 6-8 weeks, but manager Bobby Valentine expressed hope Tuesday that Ross could be back sooner.

Daisuke Matsuzaka threw 21 pitches off the mound yesterday in Fort Myers, according to Kyodo News of Japan. "Today is like a warm-up," Matsuzaka said, according to the paper. "I think I'll throw harder next week. " He will long toss today and return to the bullpen Friday as long as there are no setbacks. Matsuzaka had Tommy John elbow surgery last June. He is not expected back until sometime around the All-Star break. For starters, rehab usually consists of gradually building up arm strength followed by a minor league assignment.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff PHILADELPHIA — Daisuke Matsuzaka's rehab assignment is scheduled to end May 23. That's when the maximum 30 days are up. But under the rules of the new basic agreement, the Red Sox can restart that clock, but it would require activating him before the 30 days are up, waiting seven more days and then placing him back on the disabled list where he'd get another 30 days. It's an option and Matsuzaka still has one more rehab start to make that decision.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled to start for Pawtucket Thursday night in Durham, N.C., and again Tuesday in Norfolk, Va. That would give the righthander six starts in his minor league rehabilitation assignment, the equivalent of a full spring training. But Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine isn't sure that will be enough to get Matsuzaka ready. "I don't think he's all that close," said Valentine. "He might be, but I don't think he is. I don't think he's all that close to pitching in the major leagues.

The Boston Red Sox placed outfielder Cody Ross on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and activated Kevin Youkilis, who was on the DL with a strained lower back. Ross has a small fractured bone in his left foot. The injury occurred when he fouled a ball of his foot in Friday night's game against Philadelphia. General manager Ben Cherington said Monday that Ross could be sidelined for 6-8 weeks, but manager Bobby Valentine expressed hope Tuesday that Ross could be back sooner.

PHILADELPHIA - Daisuke Matsuzaka will not be returning to the Red Sox any time soon. The righthander, whose minor league rehabilitation assignment was due to end Wednesday, has been shut down because of pain in his right trapezius muscle, located in the upper back. Matsuzaka received an injection Sunday. "That's been nagging him for quite a while and we've got to make sure that that's 100 percent before he's going out there again," manager Bobby Valentine said. "I talked to him [Saturday]

PHILADELPHIA - Daisuke Matsuzaka will not be returning to the Red Sox any time soon. The righthander, whose minor league rehabilitation assignment was due to end Wednesday, has been shut down because of pain in his right trapezius muscle, located in the upper back. Matsuzaka received an injection Sunday. "That's been nagging him for quite a while and we've got to make sure that that's 100 percent before he's going out there again," manager Bobby Valentine said. "I talked to him [Saturday]

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff BALTIMORE — It's raining here in the Charm City, but the storm is moving out to sea, so we should have a baseball game tonight. So what else is going on? In the wake of Mike Aviles belting three home runs against the Phillies, let's review how he's doing compared to his predecessor at shortstop, Marco Scutaro. Aviles: Has played in 40 of 41 games, making 39 starts at shortstop. Hitting .275/.303/.497 with an OPS+ of 112. Has 13 doubles, 0 triples, 8 home runs, 27 RBIs, 26 runs scored and five stolen bases in...

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff PHILADELPHIA — Daisuke Matsuzaka will not be returning to the Red Sox any time soon. The righthander, whose minor league rehabilitation assignment was due to end on Wednesday, has been shut down because of pain in his right trapezius muscle. Matsuzaka received an injection in the area. "That's been nagging him for quite a while and we've got to make sure that that's 100 percent before he's going out there again," manager Bobby Valentine said.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff PHILADELPHIA — Daisuke Matsuzaka's rehab assignment is scheduled to end May 23. That's when the maximum 30 days are up. But under the rules of the new basic agreement, the Red Sox can restart that clock, but it would require activating him before the 30 days are up, waiting seven more days and then placing him back on the disabled list where he'd get another 30 days. It's an option and Matsuzaka still has one more rehab start to make that decision.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - By his own admission, Daisuke Matsuzaka won't be making his next start for the Boston Red Sox. That was apparent even to the untrained eye Saturday night when Matsuzaka was tagged for five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings in a rehab start for the Pawtucket Red Sox against the Columbus Clippers. Matsuzaka struck out five and walked only one, but he also hit two batters. "I'm not sure where I'm going to be pitching for my next outing but it's probably going to be in the minors," Matsuzaka said through interpreter Jeff Cutler.

DURHAM, N.C. — Daisuke Matsuzaka agrees with Boston manager Bobby Valentine. The Red Sox pitcher isn't quite ready to return to the big leagues — yet. Matsuzaka had his longest rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday night, but allowed five runs — four earned — in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-0 loss to the Durham Bulls. He threw 64 of his 95 pitches for strikes while allowing seven hits. The Japanese star struck out three, hit one batter and gave up two home runs — including one to the first hitter he faced, and a three-run shot in the sixth.