Dice-K sent to the 15-Day Disabled List

The Boston Red Sox have placed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day DL with a strained shoulder.

Yesterday it was reported that Matsuzaka was being removed from the rotation to have his shoulder checked out, and today it appears Dice-K could miss extensive time.

Terry Francona said before the Red Sox game that this likely wouldn't be a quick fix. "It's not going to be a two-week DL thing," Francona said, according to the Boston Globe. "We have a lot of work ahead of us to get him back to being Daisuke."

Fortunately an MRI showed no structural damage, but Francona acknowledge that he is very fatigued.

Matsuzaka has struggled a great deal for the Red Sox this year, going 1-5 with an 8.23ERA.

He recently said, "If I keep going like this, I have no right to be part of this rotation." Couldn't have said it better myself.

The injury to Dice-K will certainly have an effect on what the Red Sox elect to do with starter Brad Penny.

According to Peter Gammons of ESPN.com it appears the Red Sox will no longer be trading Brad Penny.

Fortunately the Red Sox ridiculous depth at starting pitching allows them to absorb the blow of losing a starter without skipping a beat.