By Josh Maurer & Will Flemming

After facing Andy Pettitte yesterday afternoon in Rochester, tonight the PawSox will be the ones with a big leaguer on the mound. Daisuke Matsuzaka starts this evening against Rochester as he continues rehabilitating from Tommy John Surgery performed on June 10, 2011.

Dice-K was originally scheduled to start for the PawSox Friday night in Toledo, but an issue with the left side of his neck forced the Red Sox to push his start back to tonight. According to Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, the right-hander is scheduled for two more starts, with the possibility of a third.

In 2007, Dice-K won Game 7 of the ALCS vs. Cleveland and won Game 3 of the World Series in Colorado. His best season came in 2008 when he went 18–3 with a 2.90 ERA. (Kelly O’Connor)

Dice-K was placed on the Red Sox disabled list a year ago (May 17) and makes his third rehab start of the year.

April 23 with High-A Salem vs. Wilmington

4.0 IP 6-H 3-R/ER 0-BB 3-K 2-HR

April 28 with Double-A Portland vs. Reading

4.2 IP 3-H 1-R/ER 2-BB 7-K 0-HR 74 pitches (44 strikes)

Matsuzaka, 31, is in his sixth season with the Red Sox and is not an unfamiliar face around McCoy. He has made previous rehab appearances for the PawSox in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Overall in eight starts for Pawtucket he is 3–1 with a 2.15 ERA (9 ER/37.2 IP).

Hopefully the Red Wings won’t find the same success against Dice-K that the PawSox found against Pettitte. First pitch tonight is set for 6:15, we hit the air at 6:00.

Talk with you then.

-AG

@aaronmgoldsmith

agoldsmith@pawsox.com