Daisuke Matsuzaka’s First Live Batting Practice Session Canceled Due to Stiff Neck

Daisuke Matsuzaka was supposed to throw live batting practice for the first time this spring at 11:30 a.m., prior to Boston's spring training game with the Pirates, but a stiff neck canceled the session.

According to The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham, "Matsuzaka felt something warming up and was scratched."

Matsuzaka's stiff back has limited his pitching activities, and it seems unlikely that he will be ready for his first start of the season.

Also planning to pitch on Saturday are Hideki Okajima, Daniel Bard, Casey Kelly, Ramon Ramirez, Robert Manuel, Kyle Weiland and Kris Johnson, who will all be taking the hill in an intrasquad scrimmage following the Red Sox-Pirates contest.