LHP Brian Johnson was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

LHP Brian Johnson, making just his second career big league start, went five innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits while striking out three for his first career win.

LHP Brian Johnson is the "likely candidate" to start Tuesday against the Blue Jays in Toronto after LHP Eduardo Rodriguez went on paternity leave Monday, manager John Farrell said. Johnson, 26, is 0-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 15 strikeouts in two starts with Triple-A Pawtucket this season. "Strike throwing is good," Farrell said. "Percentage of strikes has been much improved. Sharpness to the secondary is there. The velocity is probably not to where it was two springs ago, but improved over a year ago."

LHP Brian Johnson is the "likely candidate" to start Tuesday against the Blue Jays in Toronto after LHP Eduardo Rodriguez went on paternity leave Monday, manager John Farrell said. Johnson, 26, is 0-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 15 strikeouts in two starts with Triple-A Pawtucket this season. "Strike throwing is good," Farrell said. "Percentage of strikes has been much improved. Sharpness to the secondary is there. The velocity is probably not to where it was two springs ago, but improved over a year ago."

LHP Brian Johnson, a prospect pitching at Pawtucket, was given leave from the team because of anxiety issues."He is leaving the team to seek treatment for anxiety while continuing non-game baseball activities in Fort Myers, Florida," the team, said in a press release. "Out of respect to the player and his personal privacy, the club will refrain from commenting on the matter until the appropriate time."

Johnson (elbow) is working through a rehabilitation program and is not expected to require surgery, the Boston Globe reports.

Johnson, who first suffered the injury in early August, recently underwent an exam and apparently the medical opinion is that surgery is not needed at this time.

Johnson is scheduled for an exam on his elbow Oct. 1,the Boston Globe reports. The left-handed Johnson has not pitched since Aug. 2.

Surgery is a possibility as the Red Sox attempt to figure out what exactly is the best course of action for Johnson, who has been at the team complex in Fort Myers, Fla., the last month doing rehab work.

Johnson (elbow) is in Florida working on a "return to baseball program" and will not pitch again this season, the Providence Journal's Tim Britton reports.

It is perfectly understandable that the Red Sox have no plans on getting Johnson back on a mound this season, as they are not contending and have enough arms to close out the year. Johnson was excellent in the minors this season, struggled in a brief taste of the big leagues and then suffered from elbow inflammation. It's possible that he could be ready to take on a full workload in spring training, but it's unlikely that he will start the season in the majors.

Johnson (elbow) hasn't been cleared to throw, according to multiple sources, the Boston Globe reports.

At this point, it might behoove the organization to shut down Johnson or, at the very least, not rush him back to pitch in the majors. At last evaluation, Johnson's elbow injury was not considered serious, but nor was there a timeline to have him start throwing.

Boston general manager Ben Cherington said tests on Johnson's elbow indicated no structural damage, ESPN Boston reports. "There was some inflammation in and around the joint. We're confident it can be treated conservatively, and optimistic he'll be throwing again in not too long," said the general manager.

Cherington added that there's no timetable for when Johnson will begin throwing again. The young left-hander felt something in the elbow in his start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday.

Johnson (elbow) met with doctors Thursday and was told to continue to rest his injury, the Providence Journal reports.

There's no timetable for Johnson's return after he experienced some tightness in his elbow during a start Sunday for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Johnson's elbow injury is not believed to be serious, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

General manager Ben Cherington has been told Johnson's injury can be treated with rest and rehabilitation. Cherington did not, however, offer up any sort of timetable for Johnson's return. Johnson is currently on the 7-day DL down at Triple-A Pawtucket.

Johnson will be placed on the 7-day DL at Triple-A Pawtucket due to elbow tightness, Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports.

The timing is unfortunate for Johnson, who left his start Sunday after just 60 pitches due to the ailment. He'll be evaluated by the Red Sox late Monday or early Tuesday, at which point a plan of action for his recovery should be unveiled.

Johnson was lifted after four innings and 60 pitches in a start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, the Providence Journal reports. The decision to remove him was not due to injury.

It looks like the organization plans to bring Johnson back up to Boston this week. The rotation is mapped out for the series against the Yankees, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday, but Friday in Detroit is Joe Kelly's scheduled turn. Friday would also be Johnson's turn. Look for the Red Sox to call up Johnson to start in place of Kelly.

Johnson will be worked into Boston's starting rotation at some point next week, the Boston Globe reports.

Manager John Farrell confirmed Wednesday that plans are afoot to change up the rotation. Johnson and fellow left-hander Henry Owens will be called up to Boston and will be inserted into the rotation.

Johnson allowed four hits in 6.1 shutout innings for Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday. He walked three and struck out six in his first game back from the major leagues.

Johnson didn't have great command of his fastball Tuesday, so he went primarily with his curve ball. That's similar to what happened to him in his major league start against Houston, but big-league hitters are better than Triple-A hitters. Johnson will need to command multiple pitches if he's to have success in Boston. The Red Sox have not yet committed to Joe Kelly making his next start (scheduled for Saturday), so Johnson may be back up in Boston before long.

Johnson was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday.

The Red Sox decided they couldn't afford to send down a reliever to make room for Wednesday's starter, Joe Kelly, and thus Johnson got the bump. Johnson took the loss to Houston on Tuesday in his major league debut, allowing four runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three. Manager John Farrell suggested we will see Johnson again this season, and given the team's struggles in the rotation this season, that may be sooner rather than later.

Johnson took the loss in his major league debut Tuesday, as he allowed four runs on three hits and four walks over 4.1 innings against Houston. He struck out three.

Johnson's control had been solid in his past two years in the minors, as he posted a 2.6 BB/9 over 36 starts between Double-A and Triple-A. His performance Tuesday night could be chalked up to first start jitters; he wasn't hit hard, as the Astros only managed three singles against him. The 2012 first-rounder will get ample opportunity to pull it together.

Johnson will start Tuesday against the Astros, CSNNE.com reports.

A first-round pick in 2012 (31st overall), he was called up last week to replace Clay Buchholz (elbow) and now has a set date for his major league debut. Johnson, 24, has posted a 2.73 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 81:26 K:BB in 85.2 innings with Triple-A Pawtucket this season.

Johnson will make his first major league start on either Monday or Tuesday, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Johnson will be making his debut against either the Angels on Monday or the Astros on Tuesday. He was promoted from Triple-A Pawtucket shortly before the All-Star break thanks in part to a 2.73 ERA over 16 starts in the first half. The young left-hander has established himself as one of the best pitching prospects in Boston's organization and has earned a spot in the rotation for the time being.