Red Sox right-hander John Lackey was examined by team orthopedist Dr. Peter Asnis in Boston on Sunday morning after he was initially diagnosed with a strained right biceps Saturday.
TORONTO — The Red Sox left Toronto on Sunday afternoon feeling great about a 13-0 win over the Blue Jays, but still some curiosity about what will come of John Lackey's medical exam.
The Red Sox right-hander visited team orthopedist Dr. Peter Asnis in Boston on Sunday morning after he was initially diagnosed with a strained right biceps Saturday. He also went for an MRI, but the results did not return by the end of the game as manager John Farrell had anticipated.
“The MRI results have yet to come back," Farrell said. "So once those come back, we’ll sit down with John tomorrow and just kind of map out what the plan is and what’s in his best interest.”
Medical appointments and readings are always tougher to arrange and expedite on weekends than weekdays.
The Red Sox were encouraged going into the doctor visit that Lackey's injury would not require too lengthy an absence. Farrell said Sunday morning that it wasn't impossible that the Red Sox might not need to fill in his spot in the rotation, by virtue of Tuesday's off-day, but he also indicated the Sox would treat the situation conservatively.
"That's a possibility," Farrell said of not needing a fill-in. "I think we'll know more after the information's returned for the MRI. First and foremost is John's well-being. Given all that he's come through and in this case, just the fact that a pitcher walked off the mound in the midst of an at-bat, we've got to be cautious with this."
Lackey on Saturday made his first start since going for Tommy John surgery Nov. 1, 2011. In the fifth inning, he threw a 2-2 pitch to Jose Reyes and grabbed his arm immediately. He came out of the game, did well on initial strength tests and took a flight back to Boston on Sunday morning. The early indication is his surgically repaired right elbow was not hurt.
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