Red Sox send Dustin Pedroia back to DL with strained hamstring

BOSTON -- The Red Sox placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia back on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained right hamstring, the same injury that cost him nearly a month of action straddling the All-Star break.

"I'm upset," Pedroia said after Boston's 5-1 loss to Detroit on Saturday. "I feel a lot better, which is a great sign, so that means it's healing. It just needs a little more time."

Pedroia was activated from the DL on July 17, but he struggled. He was hitless in 18 at-bats over his first five games before a 1-for-4 effort Wednesday in Houston. He said he felt the need for a day off following Wednesday's game and then arrived at Minute Maid Park the following afternoon with bruising in the injured area.

The training staff recommended more imaging, which led to an MRI on Saturday. Pedroia said he might receive a PRP injection Monday to help speed the process.

"While the injury or the strain to the hamstring doesn't show any enlargement, he's still aggravated by the symptoms and feel like he needs some shut-down period to get back over this," manager John Farrell said.

Pedroia, a four-time All-Star, said he could not predict a timetable for a return.

"It's kind of the same thing as before," he said. "It takes a long time for these things to heal. I think we're all trying to take the quickest time possible and come back and give us a boost. Tried that, played for a little bit, got black and blue, so we did the smart thing and got it looked at and go from there."

Pedroia originally suffered the injury June 24 against Baltimore. He was eligible to return for the final series before the All-Star break but was given more time to heal, stretching the stint into the second half.

When Pedroia struggled upon return, some wondered if a rehab stint in the minors would've helped him ease back into action. Farrell dismissed the notion, and on Saturday further defended the organization's decision-making during the process.

"I don't know if a rehab assignment would've changed anything," Farrell said. "He was cleared to play. Pedey wanted to get back on the field. He was a part of the process here along the way as well. More than anything it was determined he wasn't going to risk further injury. Not that the injury has intensified, it's still persisting. He needs some downtime."

Knuckleballer Steven Wright was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Pedroia's spot on the roster and started against Detroit on Saturday. That was already a planned move, but having him take Pedroia's spot instead of another pitcher left the Red Sox thin in the infield.

Farrell acknowledged that the bullpen is overworked and needs the extra arm right now. He added that a roster move will come in the next day or so to reinforce the infield.

Brock Holt made his third straight start at second base Saturday.