Daisuke Matsuzaka (neck) will make his first rehab appearance Sunday at Triple-A Pawtucket.

Matsuzaka was originally expected to start Monday, but was apparently pushed back as a precaution. He remains on track to return in mid-August, but won't be guaranteed a spot in the starting rotation.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (neck) will begin a rehab assignment Monday at Triple-A Pawtucket.

Matsuzaka was cleared after completing a bullpen session earlier this week. While he's currently on track to return in the first half of August, he won't be guaranteed a spot in the starting rotation.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (neck) threw a successful bullpen session Wednesday.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said it was "the best that (Matsuzaka) has thrown in a long time." Dice-K could face hitters in his next session, so a rehab assignment shouldn't be far off. He could be back sometime in August, but a return to the rotation is far from a certainty.

Red Sox placed RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with a neck injury.

Dice-K lasted less than two innings on Monday night against the A's because of neck stiffness. He's had problems with his trapezius muscle for most of the year and could lose all of July to rest and rehab.

Daisuke Matsuzaka suffered from neck stiffness leading up to his start Monday and could go on the disabled list after struggling against the A's.

Matsuzaka gave up five runs in one-plus innings in Monday's loss. The Red Sox said he's again having trouble with the trapezius muscle along the right side of his neck. He received injections there earlier this season. If he lands back on the DL, the Red Sox would simply go from six starters to five.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was lit up for five runs and two homers in one-plus innings by the A's on Monday.

The Red Sox never announced an injury, but something was pretty obviously wrong with Matsuzaka as he threw his last few pitches in the second inning. With the Red Sox using a six-man rotation at the moment, don't be surprised if Matsuzaka goes back on the disabled list for a bit.

Daisuke Matsuzaka turned in his finest effort of the season on Tuesday, allowing just one run on six hits over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Blue Jays.

Matsuzaka fanned five and walked just one in the game. While the results through his first four starts don't look impressive at first glance (0-2, 4.91 ERA), his 20/6 K/BB ratio in 22 innings does hint at some upside moving forward. As long as he can continue to keep the walks in check, he should develop into a useful fantasy commodity as the season moves along and he continues to regain his strength and velocity.

Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed four runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision Thursday against the Marlins.

Once again, Matsuzaka got off to a rough start, giving up three runs in the first. Once again, he bounced back from there to keep the Red Sox in the game. However, after three starts, he has an ugly 6.06 ERA (and a fine 1.10 WHIP). The Red Sox will likely stick with him for now, but since he's in the last year of his deal, they're only going to be so patient.

Red Sox activated RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka from the 60-day disabled list.

Matsuzaka will make his first appearance in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery last season. His effectiveness coming back from multiple injuries remains to be seen, though he'll be coming off a relatively successful minor league rehab assignment. The Red Sox have yet to rule out a possible return to the starting rotation for Daniel Bard, but Matsuzaka has the potential to force him into the bullpen with any success at all. He figures to be put on a pitch count initially.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (elbow) will be activated from the disabled list to start Saturday against the Nationals.

That was the assumption until now, but it's really going to happen. Matsuzaka last pitched in the majors on May 16, 2011 and underwent Tommy John surgery a month later. The 31-year-old allowed on run over 1 1/3 innings in his final tuneup Tuesday night with Triple-A Pawtucket and had a 3.65 ERA and 30/9 K/BB ratio in 37 innings during his rehab assignment. We wouldn't go anywhere near him in mixed formats, but those in deeper AL-only leagues could afford to stash him.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (elbow) lasted just 1 1/3 innings in his rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket Tuesday, allowing a run on three hits and two walks.

Matsuzaka was supposed to go three innings, but he reached his 40-pitch limit after just 1 1/3 frames. It's viewed as a tune-up start before he enters the rotation Saturday, though the Red Sox haven't officially said that he's set in stone for that outing.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will be limited to three innings Tuesday in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket.

Dice-K has been excellent in two starts since returning from a right trapezius muscle injury, allowing just one run over 10 1/3 innings while striking out six and walking just one. He'll likely replace Daniel Bard in the Red Sox starting rotation.

Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings Thursday in his latest minor league rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket.

Impressive. Dice-K gave up just two hits while striking out four and walking none. The only run scored on a solo homer by Lew Ford in the top of the first inning. Matsuzaka hasn't had any setbacks with his right trapezius muscle or surgically-repaired since resuming his rehab assignment, but it's not clear when he'll make his return to the majors.

Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his next minor league rehab start Saturday at Triple-A Pawtucket.

Matsuzaka was shut down for about a week with pain in the side of his neck but is now feeling better. He'll need to make at least two more rehab starts before the Red Sox consider activating him from the disabled list.

Red Sox transferred RHP Daisuke Matsuzka from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

Dice-K's rehab from elbow surgery has stalled due to neck soreness. It's not clear when he might be ready.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (elbow) received a cortisone shot Sunday in his right trapezius muscle and will not start on Tuesday.

The muscle is in the neck and helps to support the arm. Dice-K had dealt with neck pain, which perhaps explains his struggles at the Triple-A level. His 30-day rehab window closes on Wednesday and for weeks it has appeared as though Boston wouldn't activate him from the disabled list. We now have confirmation of that. The Red Sox can now re-start a rehab assignment with a new 30-day window.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (elbow) is dealing with pain on the side of his neck.

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe thinks it might be a phantom injury in order to keep the right-hander off the major league roster, as Matsuzaka has been "erratic" in five rehab starts. Dice-K isn't close to being added to the Red Sox rotation.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (elbow) allowed five runs (four earned) over 6 2/3 innings Thursday in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket.

Dice-K gave up seven hits, including a pair of homers, while fanning three and walking none. He threw 64 out of 95 pitches for strikes. The 31-year-old rigth-hander is in line to make one more start before his 30-day rehab window expires, but the Red Sox don't think he's close to contributing in the majors. It's possible his rehab window could be restarted, but the team would have to prove that Matsuzaka suffered some sort of setback. Stay tuned.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine indicated that Daisuke Matsuzaka (elbow) likely won't be ready to rejoin the team after his next two rehab starts.

It will be the end of his 30-day rehab assignment, but if the Red Sox don't think he's ready, they can place him back on the disabled list and begin a new rehab assignment. "I don't think he's all that close to pitching in the major league," said Valentine. "Not until he's ready. It's not the calendar that's going to dictate whether or not a guy pitches in the major leagues." Bobby V also indicated that Dice-K is still working on getting his mechanics in order. We had anticipated possible seeing him before the end of May, but it appears that won't happen.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Daisuke Matsuzaka will make two more minor league rehab starts for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Matsuzaka struggled in a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday, giving up five earned runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings of work. His 30-day rehab window closes May 23. To fit Dice-K into the rotation, Valentine will likely have to bump Daniel Bard or Felix Doubront to the bullpen. Bobby V said he didn't want to go to a six-man rotation long-term.