Jon Lester Placed On 15-Day Disabled List With Left Lat Muscle Strain, No Timeframe For Return
Jon Lester was placed on the 15-day DL on July 6 after suffering a strained left lat muscle during the fourth inning of the Boston Red Sox' 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night. Read more at Over The Monster.
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Dr. Thomas Gill, the team doctor of the Boston Red Sox, issued a statement on Wednesday talking about Jon Lester and his left lat muscle strain, which he suffered in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.
"Jon Lester had an MRI today which confirmed the diagnosis of a latissimus strain. He will be treated with a period of rest from throwing, followed by progressive strengthening program. There is no specific timeframe for his return at this time. His status will be better defined following the All-Star break." (via WEEI)
In addition, Gill also talked about Clay Buchholz, who has been dealing with a back injury.
"Clay Buchholz was seen in consultation by Dr. Craig Brigham today in Charlotte. Dr. Brigham agreed with the team's assessment that the back symptoms can be treated with rehabilitation. Clay will be advanced in his activities as his symptoms allow," Gill's statement said.
Jon Lester has been placed on the 15-day Disabled List with a strained Latissimus muscle, according to WEEI.com. Lester hurt the back muscle in Tuesday night's 3-2 Red Sox victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, getting pulled from the game after four innings without giving up a hit. He had struck out five and only allowed one base runner in the four innings.
The Red Sox have called up Scott Atchison to take Lester's roster spot.
If Lester returns as soon as he's eligible - a possibility considering such injuries usually take 2-4 weeks to recover and Lester's said that he doesn't consider the injury to be serious - he'll probably only have missed one actual start, with his second start getting pushed back from after the All-Star Break.
The Red Sox are hoping for the quick return, especially since John Lackey continues to struggle and Clay Buchholz is awaiting a third opinion on his own back injury.
Jon Lester suffered a strained left lat muscle during the fourth inning of the Boston Red Sox' 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night, which forced the Red Sox ace to depart from the ballgame.
Lester told reporters that he would be evaluated on Wednesday, but didn't think the injury was serious.
"We'll get it looked at tomorrow, see how I feel. Luckily, we have the All-Star break built in, so hopefully we don't have to do anything drastic around here," Lester said. "We may alter one start, but like I said, we've got the All-Star break built in. I don't imagine this being a long-term deal. We'll re-evaluate everything tomorrow. Hopefully, this was just a more precautionary type deal, just a fluke thing, and move on." (via WEEI)
Lester was pitching a no hitter and had allowed just one walk when he was removed from Tuesday's game. In 18 starts this season, Lester is 10-4 with a 3.31 ERA, 110 strikeouts, 40 walks and a 1.21 WHIP.
Jon Lester had a no-hitter going through four innings Tuesday night and was cruising with a 3-0 lead with five strikeouts to boot before NESN's cameras caught Matt Albers warming in the Red Sox pen, team medial staff chatting with Terry Francona and the staff ace not returning to the game.
The report from the team is that Lester was taken out of the game with a strain of his left Latissimus muscle - that would be the back, for those scoring at home - making him the second Red Sox pitcher to fall victim to a phantom back injury, after Clay Buchholz was DL-ed with a similar ailment a few weeks earlier.
There aren't currently any more updates on Lester's condition, but he'll likely be re-evaluated by the medical staff after the game before a prognosis is issued and an update on his availability is handed out.
Boston may be able to avoid sending Lester to the DL if they feel that the injury isn't serious because of the all-star game, but it would take some rotation shuffling to do so.
Matt Albers pitched two scoreless innnings in relief, not giving up Toronto's first hit until there were two outs in the sixth inning.
