Red Sox righty Daisuke Matsuzaka is slowly but surely returning to the Red Sox, but before he does, Dice-K will roll around in the minors to make a few rehab starts.
After throwing a side session in Ft. Myers this Friday, Dice-K will take the weekend off and throw roughly two to three innings of work for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox on Monday. Following this outing, Matsuzaka will head to Boston to be re-evaluated and if everything looks fine, he will make a 50-pitch rehab start for the Double-A Sea Dogs in Manchester when they take on the Fisher Cats on Aug. 29.
Should these steps all go well, Dice-K will jump up to Triple-A Pawtucket for a Sept. 3 start with a 65-pitch ceiling, meaning he may be able to pitch for the Sox by Sept. 9 against the Orioles at Fenway Park.
