According to a team source, the plan is for Dustin Pedroia to return to the Red Sox' lineup Tuesday in the team's series-opener against the Orioles at Fenway Park.
Pedroia has been out of action since leaving the Sox' May 28 game with what was later diagnosed as a slight tear in the adductor muscle in his right thumb. He had originally injured the thumb in the seventh inning of the Red Sox' May 2 game against the A's, with the second baseman fouling off a pitch against Oakland reliever Ryan Cook. Initially, X-rays didn't show any damage, but an MRI conducted following the Memorial Day game revealed the tear.
Pedroia took batting practice with a specially-designed brace both Saturday and Sunday in Toronto with no ill effects. He told reporters after the BP sessions that his hope was to play Tuesday, with the last hurdle coming Monday when he would receive another examination.
Tuesday, the Red Sox and Pedroia will be facing Orioles' starting pitcher Jason Hammel, a pitcher the second baseman is 4-for-7 against with one home run and two walks.
For more Red Sox news, go to the team page at weei.com/redsox [1].
Links:
[1] http://weei.com/redsox
[2] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/red-sox