Daisuke Matsuzaka tossed seven innings of one-run ball in his first start back after missing two months with a neck injury, but he’s allowed 11 runs in five innings since then and it sounds like the Red Sox have just about seen enough.
Matsuzaka failed to make it out of the second inning Saturday against the Blue Jays and is now 1-5 with a 7.20 ERA in eight starts since returning from Tommy John elbow surgery.
Asked about his status, manager Bobby Valentine told Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal that he’s “not sure” if Matsuzaka will remain in the rotation and added that “we’re going to have some meetings here, with him too ... he was very disappointed yesterday and so was I.”
In past years the Red Sox have stuck with Matsuzaka through similar struggles, but the big difference this time around is that his contract is finally over after this season. Boston isn’t exactly overflowing with quality rotation options at this point, but when Matsuzaka’s time with the Red Sox will be over a month from now anyway there isn’t much motivation to keep trotting him out there.
