Daisuke Matsuzaka has already made four rehab starts with the Pawtucket Red Sox as he attempts to work himself back into major league form following Tommy John surgery in June of 2011. But Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine isn't sure what to expect if and when Dice-K returns to the majors.
Per the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham, Valentine was asked whether Matsuzaka will return to the Red Sox this season:
"I'm pretty confident. I don't have a firm date or an exact expectation of what I'm going to see when he does," Valentine responded.
Matsuzaka is 0-1 with a 3.74 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 21 2/3 innings in his four starts with Pawtucket. Over five seasons with the Boston Red Sox, he is 49-30 with a 4.25 ERA. Since going 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA and finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2008, though, his ERA from season to season has fluctuated between 4.69 and 5.76.
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