BALTIMORE — Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoil has been sent back to Boston to be examined by team medical director Dr. Larry Ronan. He left Thursday’s game in the third inning because of an illness and has not played since.

Napoli has been dizzy and on Friday felt nauseous. But the Sox do not feel he has a concussion after consulting with Dr. Michael Collins, a brain trauma specialist.

“There’s a pretty high level of confidence that he’s not dealing with anything concussion related,” John Farrell said.

Several other Red Sox players are sick, so perhaps Napoli’s illness is connected to that. But his symptoms have lingered and been more severe. Ronan, an internist, will examine Napoli today.


“We want to be sure that he’s in a safe place and we can get to the bottom of it,” Farrell said.

Farrell was asked whether Napoli has vertigo or whether his illness could be related to the medication he is taking for his hip condition. He didn’t know.

The Red Sox have had Will Middlebrooks taking grounders at first base to increase their depth at the position.

Meanwhile, Clay Buchholz has once again been pushed back because of a sore trap muscle on his right side. The righthander told the Sox he does not feel ready to throw in the bullpen on Sunday and as a result will not start on Tuesday.

“He’s not to the point physically where he feels like he can get on the mound [Sunday] without the potential of a setback or irritating of the trap muscle he’s feeling it in,” Farrell said. “It’s restricting him from greater intensity.”

Buchholz last pitched a week ago. So the next step could be to place him on the disabled list retroactively. Felix Doubront will start one of the games of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Ryan Dempster would then start on Wednesday.

Buchholz has made just one start since June 2. The longer he stays out, the more likely it becomes that he will need a rehab assignment before he returns to the majors.


Buchholz is 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA.