Farrell: Masterson 'Clearly Not Right'
BOSTON (CBS) -- Justin Masterson was hit hard again on Tuesday night, causing some concern with his manager.
Masterson fell to 2-2 and watched his ERA balloon to 6.37 on the season as he lasted just 2.2 innings against Oakland, allowing six earned runs off six hits. Two of those hits left the yard, and it was clear the Red Sox starter wasn't hitting his spots, leaving most of his pitchers out over the plate.
That has John Farrell worried, and the Red Sox are apparently weighing their options with Masterson.
"The last two times out for Justin have not been anything close to what he's shown this year," Farrell said after Boston's 9-2 loss. "Clearly he is not right. Whether that is physical, delivery-wise -- the ball isn't coming out of his hand as he's shown for the better part of this year. We have to gather some information overnight, talk with him in the morning and just get a better assessment of where things are.
"Talking with the medical staff and Justin himself, it's not anything glaring or anything with the body that can be identified to say this is the primary reason," said Farrell. "To what extent he feels anything that might subconsciously be in there, to not allow him the ability and freedom to cut loose, that's what we're working to get to the bottom of."
Masterson has allowed 10 earned runs in just 6.2 innings over his last two outings. He said he didn't feel comfortable at any point on Tuesday, but said there is nothing physically wrong with him.
"Other than not making good pitches? No," joked Masterson. "I never had a chance to feel comfortable; I never felt comfortable in the pregame bullpen as far as having a good release point.
"The biggest thing was that I wasn't able to stand on anything today, and that's probably why," he said of Farrell's concern. "[I told Farrell] it was a little different than my last five outings, where everything felt, 'here we go.' This one, it didn't come out as well as I was hoping, but again, we knew this was going to be a year of hitting our spots, and that didn't take place."
Masterson joked the Coliseum has some voodoo on him, as Tuesday's loss dropped his career record to 0-6 in Oakland.
But he has no worries about making his next start, scheduled for Sunday in Seattle.
"I think we're more than capable, simply because I don't think it's anything too extreme," he said. "I think it would be a good time to work, assess, really go out and try to have some fun in Seattle."
He may be confident, but Masterson might not be making that start on Sunday -- injury or no injury.
