When you check Saturday's Phillies-Red Sox box score, don't be tool alarmed -- no, Scott Atchinson is not Boston's newest starter (though, he only allowed two hits over three innings). Atchinson was merely serving in an emergency role after Daisuke Matsuzaka was a late scratch.
Dice-K, instead of making his scheduled start, made a very unscheduled trip to the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain. Matsuzaka warmed up in the bullpen as usual, but then then made his way to the dugout and informed the team of his injury, roughly just 15 minutes before the start of the game.
The news is especially disappointing considering how Dice-K had pitched in his previous four starts, allowing just six earned runs on 17 hits in 27.1 IP.
No word on who will take over Daisuke's spot in the rotation. With Beckett still a ways from returning, the Sox' only possible spot starters are Michael Bowden, who hasn't seen any real success in the majors, and Boof Bonser, who hasn't really given any reason to think he can get major league outs this year either. For today, Dustin Richardson has been called up from Pawtucket.
As for Daisuke, well...the disappointment just continues for the $100 million man. Just when it looked like the Sox might be putting together a viable back-of-the-rotation, he's back on the DL (where he has spent most of the last few years).