--SS Jed Lowrie is mulling three options while attempting to recover from pain and soreness in his left wrist that landed him on the 15-day disabled list April 13. The young infielder consulted with several hand specialists and his choices are twofold: play through the discomfort with the aid of cortisone shots or undergo one of two surgeries. The first surgery would reattach the fractured Extensor Carpi Ulanris bone, and the second procedure would remove the non-displaced bone fracture and end Lowrie's season. Lowrie is planning on meeting with one more specialist in Arizona before moving ahead with a particular course of treatment.

--RHP Justin Masterson was officially named the starter for Monday morning's Patriots' Day game against the Baltimore Orioles, and will take the starting rotation space of injured RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka. The young right-hander threw 60 pitches in four brilliant innings of relief for Matsuzaka following his exit after the first inning last week, and could be expected to throw in the 75-80 pitch range during his starting assignment. "(Masterson's) a good pitcher," manager Terry Francona said. "It's not like you're throwing somebody out there because he can do it. This guy is good. He just has the ability to be versatile, and we're not deep enough into the season where it's a real big deal and we're worried about him. And it will help us."

--OF Jason Bay has reached base safely in all 10 games this season (11 hits, 11 walks) and knocked in his 500th career RBI with his two-run bomb in the second inning. Counting this season's first 10 games, the Sox left fielder actually has reached base safely in 22 straight games beginning Sept. 12, 2008. Bay has hit .306 with five home runs, 14 RBIs and 21 walks in that 22 game span. The hot bats of both Bay and OF J.D. Drew have helped off-set the very slow start to DH David Ortiz's 2009 season with the Sox.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (mild right shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 15.

SS Jed Lowrie (sprained left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 12. He saw a hand specialist, who determined that surgery won't be necessary. He was given two injections in the wrist and won't be able to start baseball activities for at least two weeks.

SS Julio Lugo (arthroscopic right knee surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He is expected to return in mid-April.

OF Mark Kotsay (back surgery in January 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He was rehabbing in Fort Myers, Fla., in mid-April, and he hopes to return in May.

RHP John Smoltz (right shoulder surgery in June 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He was rehabbing in Fort Myers,

Fla., in mid-April, and he expects to pitch for the Red Sox in June, barring any setbacks.

OF Jonathan Van Every (sprained right ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27.

RHP Miguel Gonzalez (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27.

ROTATION:

RHP Josh Beckett

LHP Jon Lester

RHP Tim Wakefield

RHP Brad Penny

RHP Justin Masterson

BULLPEN:

RHP Jonathan Papelbon (closer)

LHP Hideki Okajima

RHP Ramon Ramirez

RHP Manny Delcarmen

RHP Takashi Saito

LHP Javier Lopez

LHP Hunter Jones

CATCHERS:

Jason Varitek

George Kottaras

INFIELDERS:

1B Kevin Youkilis

2B Dustin Pedroia

SS Nick Green

3B Mike Lowell

DH David Ortiz

INF Gil Velazquez

1B/OF Chris Carter

OUTFIELDERS:

LF Jason Bay

CF Jacoby Ellsbury

RF J.D. Drew

OF Rocco Baldelli