John Lackey injury: Red Sox pitcher leaves game after hurting arm

John Lackey exited his start on Saturday after just 4⅓ innings of work due to an injury to his right arm. MRI results have revealed inflammation in his biceps, but no structural damage.

By JP Starkey Apr 6, 2013, 3:19pm EDT

UPDATE 4/10 10:30 a.m. ET: John Lackey got the second opinion on his injured right biceps and the "prognosis is good," reports Rob Bradford of WEEI.

The right-hander will still likely miss his next start on Friday, but he shouldn't be sidelined much longer than that.

UPDATE 4/8 4:00 p.m. ET: Err... perhaps team president Larry Lucchino wants to double check his sources. Red Sox manager John Farrell spoke to the press Monday and explained that John Lackey's MRI did NOT actually reveal a tear of his biceps, just some inflammation, reports Alex Speier of WEEI.

Lackey is scheduled to get a second opinion some time Monday, so there's always a chance that a third update confirming the original update is coming shortly.

Farrell added that it is "unlikely" Lackey will make his next start, which means that Alfredo Aceves will probably make a spot start.

UPDATE 4/8 9:30 a.m. ET: Team president Larry Lucchino spoke on the radio this morning, giving an update on John Lackey's arm injury. Lucchino said that the MRI results on Lackey's right arm revealed "a mid-biceps strain, no structural damage," reports Rob Bradford of WEEI.

The statement seems a bit contradictory -- what kind of damage is a biceps tear if not structural? -- but we'll infer that the "structural damage" bit is concerning Lackey's surgically-repaired elbow. Lucchino added that he expects Lackey to miss "a start or two," but is hopeful the big right-hander won't be sidelined any longer than that.

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ORIGINAL: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey was forced to exit his Saturday start after just 4⅓ innings of work after injuring his right arm -- again.

More: Red Sox blog: Over the Monster

The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham noted that Lackey was favoring the area above his elbow after the injury, and that his arm was "kind of dangling."

Lackey missed the entire 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery following the 2011 season. Lackey lasted just 76 pitches in his first start since 2011 and was pitching well, allowing just two runs on five hits and one walk, while striking out eight Blue Jays.

Boston signed Lackey to a five-year, $82.5 million deal prior to the 2010 season. Lackey is set to earn $15.25 million in 2013 and 2014. Boston holds a club-option at the league minimum for 2015, since Lackey missed the 2012 season after undergoing the surgery.

If Lackey's injury on Saturday is significant, he could end up missing the majority of the 2013 season.

Early reports on Lackey's injury are positive. Boston's PR department issued a statement saying that Lackey suffered a right biceps strain, according to The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo.