The Red Sox achieved an important psychological milestone last night when they pulled to .500 for the first time in 2012. Now there's more good news for the winners of six in a row: right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka is getting closer in his recovery from last June's Tommy John surgery.
While Matsuzaka is (somewhat unfairly) viewed as a bust by many in Boston and environs, there's no doubt that the rotation needs reinforcements, and Matsuzaka is the best internal solution they have. On that front, Matsuzaka on Saturday night made his second minor-league rehab appearance.
Pitching for Double-A Portland, Matsuzaka in 4.2 innings gave up one run and three hits while striking out seven and walking two. Of Dice-K's 74 pitches, 44 went for strikes. “He had four plus pitches today," Portland catcher Dan Butler told Dan Hickling of the Boston Globe. "He could throw any of them at any time.’’
Matsuzaka's most recent outing marks progress: in his first rehab start, he gave up three runs on six hits for High-A Salem.
He'll likely spend the full 30 days on his assignment, but by late May he could be pitching in Boston. Matsuzaka has always struggled with his command, and command is typically the last thing to return to a pitcher recovering from Tommy John surgery. Still, a healthy Dice K gives Boston rotation options, which is something they haven't had in a while.
