Elbow discomfort sends Dice-K to New York

MILWAUKEE -- After experiencing discomfort in his elbow during his outing Thursday night, Daisuke Matsuzaka was back in New York on Friday afternoon getting checked out by team doctors.

Matsuzaka pitched two innings of relief on Thursday and allowed two home runs, including a towering two-run shot to Ryan Braun. Matsuzaka informed club officials of the pain after the game, according to Mets manager Terry Collins..

"He said when he was loosening up, he felt it a little bit, thought it was nothing he couldn't pitch through," said Collins. "When the game was over, it bothered him pretty good. We had him looked at here and they decided to send him to New York."

Collins said Matsuzaka would have an MRI on Friday and the team would make a decision from there. The Mets had only six in the bullpen on Friday, and Collins said the team would call up another pitcher for Saturday's game if Matsuzaka's results made it necessary.

Matsuzaka was bumped to the bullpen on July 20 after a month and a half of being mainly a starter. He carried a 2-3 record and 4.24 ERA as a starter but has had more success in relief, striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings and holding a 3.25 ERA.