CHICAGO — Second baseman Dustin Pedroia does not have a serious injury to his left wrist, telling the Globe via text message that he received “great news” after being examined by team doctors Monday.
The Red Sox said Pedroia was diagnosed with inflammation and does not have any fractures. He will rejoin the team in Chicago on Tuesday and his status is day-to-day.
The Red Sox scratched Pedroia from the lineup in Sunday night’s game against the Yankees in New York and sent him back to Boston for tests that included an MRI at Massachusetts General Hospital. The team was off on Monday and opens a three-game series against the White Sox on Tuesday.
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Pedroia was injured during the home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers April 4. When Carlos Gomez slid into second base breaking up a double play in the ninth inning, Pedroia was upended and came down on his wrist.
Pedroia is 5 for 36 since. He is hitting only .236 on the season with one RBI and has yet to draw a walk.
The Red Sox also received good news regarding closer Koji Uehara. He also had an MRI that showed no structural damage. Like Pedroia, Uehara will rejoin the team on Tuesday.
Uehara felt discomfort in his right shoulder on Friday while throwing before the game. The 39-year-old righthander went on the disabled list during the 2012 season with shoulder pain.
Uehara threw for 10 minutes on Sunday and felt no pain. But the Red Sox wanted him checked out to make sure. Because Uehara has been idle for five days, manager John Farrell said a bullpen session would be needed before Uehara can get back into a game.
Uehara is off to a strong start. He has thrown five scoreless innings in five games, allowing three hits without a walk and striking out seven. He has two saves.
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Victorino progressing
Right fielder Shane Victorino, who has been on the disabled list all season with a strained right hamstring, was in Boston Monday working with physical therapist Dan Dyrek.
Initial plans were for him to join Double A Portland on Tuesday to start a rehabilitation assignment. But with rain in the forecast, that assignment could be delayed.
Victorino is expected to need 2-3 games in the minors before being activated.
Portland is home on Wednesday then starts a series in New Britain, Conn., on Thursday. Triple A Pawtucket starts a homestand on Friday.
La Russa defends replay
Farrell was sharply critical of baseball’s new replay system over the weekend, going so far as to say that it was hard to have any faith in it.
The Red Sox lost a challenge on Saturday because MLB’s replay center in Manhattan somehow was unable to see conclusive replays that were available at Yankee Stadium. Then on Sunday, when another replay went against the Sox, Farrell was ejected.
MLB executive — and Hall of Fame manager — Tony La Russa told ESPN that Farrell needs to have patience.
“One thing I’d say to John — and I’d love to talk to him because I have great respect for him — is that, in fairness to the process, we need to keep working at it,” La Russa said.
“I don’t know what the period of time is, whether it’s a month or six weeks or whatever it is, but we all have learned from what we’ve seen. But I think it’s premature to say the process isn’t going to work or he doesn’t have confidence in it because, in my opinion, the process has been really remarkable in how well it’s worked so far. I’m amazed, in fact, that we haven’t had more hiccups.”
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Workman held back
Righthander Brandon Workman, who was optioned to Triple A Pawtucket Wednesday, was scheduled to start for the PawSox on Monday. But he was pushed back to Tuesday in case Uehara’s injury proved serious. Now that Uehara is rejoining the Red Sox, Workman is expected to start on Tuesday . . . The Red Sox are 21 of 103 (.204) with runners in scoring position. Through Sunday, only the Astros (.162), Blue Jays (.179), Angels (.192), and Rays (.197) were worse . . . The Red Sox (5-8) were 9-4 after 13 games last season.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @peteabe.