Justin Masterson is nearing a return from the disabled list, leaving the Boston Red Sox with the decision of whether to reinsert the right-hander into the rotation or shift him to the bullpen.
“He’s proven he’s ready to come back,” manager John Farrell told reporters before Wednesday’s matchup with the Atlanta Braves, via The Providence Journal. “We’ve got a decision to be made here in the coming days.”
Masterson is coming off consecutive promising rehab starts for Triple-A Pawtucket, going six innings in each and allowing a total of three runs on six hits.
Still fresh in the mind of Farrell & Co., however, is Masterson’s performance before shoulder tendinitis necessitated his move to the DL on May 14. The former Red Sox prospect was walloped in his return to Boston, posting a 6.37 ERA in seven starts before the injury.
“They’ve got a lot of things on their mind they’re trying to work through,” Masterson told reporters. “I’ll just continue to do my thing, feel good and have success whenever I go out. Whatever happens next happens next.”
A return to the rotation for Masterson likely would require either moving Eduardo Rodriguez back to the minors or shifting Joe Kelly to the ‘pen. At the moment, both are more deserving of their current spots than Masterson is.
“He understands this decision isn’t about one person,” Farrell told reporters. “What’s best for us is the direction we’ll take at that time.”
Thumbnail photo via Ed Szczepanski/USA TODAY Sports Images
