Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Justin Masterson. Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Red Sox right-hander Justin Masterson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with tendinitis in his right shoulder.
The Red Sox also promoted right-hander Robbie Ross from Triple-A Pawtucket.
The Masterson move had been expected, based on comments Wednesday from manager John Farrell, who said the team would skip his start Sunday.
“We’re moving toward a likely DL for him,” Farrell said before a 2-0 victory Wednesday against Oakland. “After he went through a full exam and workup this morning with the medical staff, there’s not one specific area to the arm or shoulder that is a cause or reason why we’re seeing reduced velocity and reduced action. There’s some fatigue that’s involved. I think it’s important that we allow this to calm down.
“We’re going to need to test it at full speed at some point in the near future here, but Sunday is out as far as Masterson is concerned.”
Farrell said right-hander Steven Wright, a knuckleball specialist, is a “strong candidate” to replace Masterson in the rotation Sunday against Seattle. Wright pitched 5 2/3 innings of relief Tuesday in a 9-2 loss to Oakland, allowing three runs on six hits.
Masterson lasted a season-low 2 1/3 innings against the A’s. He gave up six runs on six hits, walked one and struck out one. In his previous start he gave up four runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings in a 5-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. He went 2-0 over his first five starts, giving up three of fewer runs four times.
“I’m not real happy,” Masterson said Wednesday. “I’m mad. … We’re going to make the best of it. I have to do it. There’s no way around it, so I’m going to make the best of it. In the end it’ll be extremely beneficial. That’s what we do with the time that we’re given.”
