The diagnosis was confirmed by Red Sox medical director Dr. Tom Gill, who will re-examine Matsuzaka after the two-week rest period. However, it is not likely that the right-hander will be able to do anything at that time.
"I think it's probably ambitious that he would throw then," manager Terry Francona said. "That's just the first time that he will be examined … I don't think that we should expect him to be ready to throw then."
Francona said that three or four weeks could pass before Matsuzaka is able to throw. He may need that same period of time to build up some strength and another few weeks on a rehab assignment, making it very likely that Matsuzaka will not be seen again until after the All-Star break.
That said, the team is pleased it got Matsuzaka checked out when it did, catching the injury at what Francona called a "manageable" stage. Matsuzaka himself said that surgery is "not a concern."
Matsuzaka said he first felt something in the elbow in the game against Seattle on April 29, in which he left in the fifth with what the team called "elbow tightness." He attempted to pitch through it in his next few outings, but he knew his velocity was suffering and he felt he had a real chance to hurt the cause.
"I couldn't throw as fast as I could before," Matsuzaka said through interpreter Kenta Yamada. "But in this condition, I tried to do my best to modify it. I was fortunate to win against Minnesota, but if I continued in this condition, I wouldn't help the team … I usually have a high tolerance [for pain], but this time it's hard for me to keep throwing."
Matsuzaka said that the diagnosis was worse than he anticipated, but he is confident that rest and rehab will do the trick.
Gill's statement said that Matsuzaka, who was formally placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, also has a strain to his common flexor mass. The DL stint is the sixth for Matsuzaka since 2008, and it came one day after fellow starter John Lackey was placed on the DL with a right elbow strain.
Although the injuries caused a rather abrupt change in plans, Francona will not push the issue one bit with either player. He is fully prepared to wait until Matsuzaka shows no ill effects, both mentally and physically, from his latest issue.
"Let him have some time down and then…when he pitches again we'll let him go out there and feel free and easy so he can worry about pitching and not his arm," Francona said.
Michael Bowden was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Matsuzaka's place on the active roster.
Bowden has appeared in 14 games out of the bullpen for the PawSox, posting a 1-0 record, a 1.59 ERA and four saves.
