Thursday, August 30, 2007

Orioles LHP Erik Bedard will miss his scheduled start in Boston on Saturday because of a strained muscle in his right side, Baltimore Manager Dave Trembley said yesterday.

Bedard, the major league strikeout leader with 221, is not expected to miss more than one turn in the rotation.

"He woke up and felt some discomfort. I asked him how long he's been like that, and he said three or four weeks," Trembley said. "He said it didn't affect his ability to pitch. He has marked improvement today, but I'm going to skip him on Saturday."

In his last start on Sunday, Bedard gave up six runs in six innings in a loss to the Twins. The defeat was his first since June 10.

Bedard is 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 182 innings. He will be replaced Saturday by rookie LHP Garrett Olson, who will be recalled from the minors before the game. Olson is 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA in two brief stints with Baltimore.

Trembley also said rookie RHP Radhames Liz will start tomorrow in Boston. Liz allowed five runs and four hits in six innings against the Twins in his major league debut on Saturday.

? RAMIREZ SITS: Manny Ramirez was not in the Red Sox' starting lineup because of a strained muscle on his left side, and the slugger likely will be sidelined for several days.

Ramirez came out of Tuesday night's game against the Yankees in the seventh inning after aggravating the injury. He was examined by two doctors yesterday and wasn't sure how long he might be out.

"I don't know. Maybe a week?" Ramirez said.

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona acknowledged that Ramirez almost certainly would miss the final two games of the Yankees series and probably won't be available until at least tomorrow night against the Orioles.

"I hate to say he's not going to play before we need to, but that's realistic," Francona said. "He showed up early today -- pretty sore. It's not worse than he was yesterday, which is good."

Eric Hinske started in left field for the Red Sox and batted ninth last night, and Mike Lowell moved up to the cleanup spot.

Ramirez hit his 20th homer of the season in the series opener Tuesday. He is batting .292 with 86 RBI and 32 doubles.

Ramirez, who grew up near Yankee Stadium, always has been a nemesis for New York. He is hitting .469 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI in 28 games against the Yankees since the start of 2006.

He also has 52 career homers against New York, tied with Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski for fourth most by a Yankees opponent.

-- From News Services