31-year old righty starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is looking good in the minors on his rehab assignment (from Tommy John Surgery). He has started 3 games in A+AA+AAA-ball so far this year and he is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Matsuzaka has pitched in 106 games (105 starts) in his first five years with the Red Sox and he is 49-30 with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. The Red Sox could use some help in the starting rotation, so they hope Matsuzaka is ready to get back to Boston soon.

The Red Sox have placed 33-year old righty starting pitcher Aaron Cook on the 15-day disabled list due to a severe left knee laceration. He started yesterday’s game for the Red Sox and he was the losing pitcher as he only lasted 2 2/3 innings and he gave up 8 hits, walked 1 batter and he gave up 7 runs (6 earned). In his defense, he shouldn’t have been allowed to go back to the mound after he injured his knee. Just another bad decision by Red Sox’ manager Bobby Valentine. The Red Sox have activated 26-year old lefty reliever/starter Andrew Miller off the D.L. to replace Cook on the pitching staff. Miller pitched in 12 games (1 start) in A+AAA-ball for the Red Sox on his rehab assignment and he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 4.85 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He gave up only 6 hits and whiffed 26 batters in 13 innings on rehab, but, he also walked 14 batters. Miller pitched in 17 games (12 starts) last year in his first season with the Red Sox and he was 6-3 with a 5.54 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP.

29-year old righty reliever Matt Albers is really pitching solid baseball for the Red Sox so far this year. He has pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox so far this year and he is 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. He has only given up 9 hits and walked 2 batters in his first 12 innings for the Red Sox this season. Albers has now pitched in 67 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Red Sox and he is 4-4 with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. The Red Sox really need Albers to keep up the good work because the bullpen has been a big time problem so far this year.

32-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Beckett is going to miss his next start due to general soreness. Beckett has started 5 games for the Red Sox so far this year and he is 2-3 with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. The Red Sox are going to call up 33-year old righty Aaron Cook to take Beckett’s start. Cook has started 5 games in AAA-ball this year for the Red Sox and he is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He has pitched in 238 games (206 starts) in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 72-68 with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.

The Red Sox have called up 27-year old righty reliever Clayton Mortensen. Mortensen pitched in 6 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Red Sox this year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 0.90 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. He has pitched in 24 games (13 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 4-8 with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Red Sox hope Mortensen can help them out of the pen.