John Lackey was taken out of the game in his first start of the season for the Boston Red Sox after an apparent arm injury.
UPDATE: Saturday, April 6, 3:35 p.m. ET by Sam Westmoreland
According to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe, Lackey is only suffering from a simple bicep strain, rather than the more serious injury many had feared:
The righty figures to miss some time with the injury, but the prognosis probably isn't too bleak for the veteran given the type of injury. No timetable has been announced.
---End of Update---
According to Sean McAdam of Comcast Sports Net, the injury appeared to be related to his bicep instead of his elbow:
John Lackey missed the entire 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Prior to that, he had the worst year of his career in 2011 with a 6.41 ERA in 160 innings for the Red Sox.
The team is hoping that the long recovery from the surgery will help him regain the form that made him an ace for the Los Angeles Angels for many years. He totaled 102 wins with a 3.81 ERA over his eight-year career with his former team.
Considering the veteran is in the middle of a five-year, $82.5-million contract, Boston will give him plenty of chances to prove that he can live up to those expectations.
He was pitching well before being removed from Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He threw 4.1 innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. The only runs he gave up were on a two-run home run by J.P. Arencibia.
It is unknown at this point how serious the injury is, but the Red Sox should hope that it has nothing to do with his previous surgery.
Boston is already light on starting pitching, and the club would likely be in some serious trouble if Lackey is out for an extended amount of time.
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