Daisuke Matsuzaka

As the Dodgers face a Sunday deadline to sign South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, the team remains at odds with agent Scott Boras over just how much Ryu should be paid. "I think all of us agree the guy is a No. 3 pitcher in the major leagues," Boras said. "It's something that [Dodgers General Manager] Ned [Colletti] and I have to work out. But it is going to have to be done within the standards of what other teams have done with other international players. " So far, so good.

As the Dodgers face a Sunday deadline to sign South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, the team remains at odds with agent Scott Boras over just how much Ryu should be paid. "I think all of us agree the guy is a No. 3 pitcher in the major leagues," Boras said. "It's something that [Dodgers General Manager] Ned [Colletti] and I have to work out. But it is going to have to be done within the standards of what other teams have done with other international players. " So far, so good.

Some cities advertise their cultural attractions to lure foreign tourists. Some advertise their foreigner. In Boston, it's Daisuke Matsuzaka, the pitching phenom from Japan who makes his first appearance at Fenway Park today. The Red Sox souvenir store is selling T-shirts and caps that say "Red Sox" or "Matsuzaka" in Japanese, the Old Town Trolley is hiring Japanese-speaking guides, and the Palm restaurant has translated its menu.

The Angels have had few explanations as to why the Boston Red Sox, the team they swept in the 2009 American League division series, keep pummeling them. "Some games we haven't played to our potential," Manager Mike Scioscia said before the game. "Some of the games they've just come out here and beat us. They've taken it to us last year and this year. " And again Saturday, when the Red Sox won, 5-0, in front of 40,025 at Angel Stadium. "No matter whether we're 0-19 against Boston, as long as we win the division, that's all I care about," outfielder Torii Hunter said.

Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched five effective innings to win for the first time this season and Boston Manager Terry Francona earned his 500th victory Tuesday night as the Red Sox defeated the Tigers, 5-1. Francona became the third Boston manager to reach that plateau with the Red Sox, joining Joe Cronin (1,071) and Mike Higgins (560). Matsuzaka (1-3), in his third start since a five-week stint on the disabled list, came into the game with an 8.

'I would like my first batter, if he is listening, please, try not to hit that ball.' Daisuke Matsuzaka, revealing a sense of humor and that his first pitch to a spring training opponent will be a fastball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- David Ortiz, Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury each hit a home run and Boston beat Tampa Bay, 13-5, Monday night. The Red Sox won for the first time in seven games at Tropicana Field this season, climbing to within .002 percentage points of the first-place Rays in the American League East. The Rays (88-60) were a season-high 5 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox (89-61) heading into September. Daisuke Matsuzaka (17-2)

at Boston 8, Chicago 0: Daisuke Matsuzaka (16-2) yielded two singles in eight innings. His 16 wins tied Hideo Nomo's single-season record for the most by a native of Japan. With Josh Beckett being put on the disabled list, the Red Sox used Matsuzaka in his place against the Central Division leaders, and he pitched one of his most efficient games of the season. at Tampa Bay 14, Baltimore 3: Ben Zobrist hit a grand slam, Cliff Floyd drove in five runs and the East-leading Rays (82-51)

Ryan Howard preferred securing his future in Philadelphia to testing free agency in two years. The slugging first baseman agreed to a $125-million, five-year contract extension Monday that could keep him with the Phillies until 2017. The 30-year-old Howard will make $20 million each in 2012 and 2013 and $25 million annually from 2014-16. The Phillies have a $23-million club option for 2017 with a $10-million buyout. The two-time All-Star led the Phillies to two straight trips to the World Series, winning a championship in 2008.

Boston pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has not necessary ripped through the major leagues in his 35 career starts, posting a 17-12 overall record and 4.16 earned-run average. But this season, Matsuzaka has gotten off to an impressive start. Heading into tonight's game against the New York Yankees, he's 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA and has recorded 22 strikeouts with nine walks.

Left-hander Alan Embree has been designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox, who needed to make room on their roster to bring Daisuke Matsuzaka off the disabled list on Saturday night. Embree pitched for the 2004 Red Sox team that won the World Series but never threw a pitch for Boston in his second stint with the club. He was signed to a minor league contract on March 20 and struggled during spring training. The 40-year-old veteran began the season at triple-A Pawtucket and was activated by the Red Sox on Wednesday, but didn't pitch in the two games he was on the roster.

Ryan Howard preferred securing his future in Philadelphia to testing free agency in two years. The slugging first baseman agreed to a $125-million, five-year contract extension Monday that could keep him with the Phillies until 2017. The 30-year-old Howard will make $20 million each in 2012 and 2013 and $25 million annually from 2014-16. The Phillies have a $23-million club option for 2017 with a $10-million buyout. The two-time All-Star led the Phillies to two straight trips to the World Series, winning a championship in 2008.

Classic problem for pitchers Maybe it's just a coincidence, but nearly two dozen of the big league pitchers who participated in last spring's World Baseball Classic have landed on the disabled list this season, including six of 15 who pitched for the U.S. One of those was the Angels' Scot Shields , who was largely ineffective through 20 appearances (1-3, 6.62 earned-run average) before having season-ending surgery on his left knee. The Angels wondered whether Shields' slow start, if not the injury, was a product of his five relief appearances in the WBC in March.

Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched five effective innings to win for the first time this season and Boston Manager Terry Francona earned his 500th victory Tuesday night as the Red Sox defeated the Tigers, 5-1. Francona became the third Boston manager to reach that plateau with the Red Sox, joining Joe Cronin (1,071) and Mike Higgins (560). Matsuzaka (1-3), in his third start since a five-week stint on the disabled list, came into the game with an 8.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- David Ortiz, Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury each hit a home run and Boston beat Tampa Bay, 13-5, Monday night. The Red Sox won for the first time in seven games at Tropicana Field this season, climbing to within .002 percentage points of the first-place Rays in the American League East. The Rays (88-60) were a season-high 5 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox (89-61) heading into September. Daisuke Matsuzaka (17-2)

at Boston 8, Chicago 0: Daisuke Matsuzaka (16-2) yielded two singles in eight innings. His 16 wins tied Hideo Nomo's single-season record for the most by a native of Japan. With Josh Beckett being put on the disabled list, the Red Sox used Matsuzaka in his place against the Central Division leaders, and he pitched one of his most efficient games of the season. at Tampa Bay 14, Baltimore 3: Ben Zobrist hit a grand slam, Cliff Floyd drove in five runs and the East-leading Rays (82-51)

Left-hander Alan Embree has been designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox, who needed to make room on their roster to bring Daisuke Matsuzaka off the disabled list on Saturday night. Embree pitched for the 2004 Red Sox team that won the World Series but never threw a pitch for Boston in his second stint with the club. He was signed to a minor league contract on March 20 and struggled during spring training. The 40-year-old veteran began the season at triple-A Pawtucket and was activated by the Red Sox on Wednesday, but didn't pitch in the two games he was on the roster.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has been more Dicey K than Dice K lately. Yet, he continues to win baseball games, with a major league-best 8-0 record. His secret? Well, the Red Sox do average eight runs a game in his starts, for which Matsuzaka told reporters, "I'm very grateful that I've been given the chance to get these wins under these circumstances," after an 11-8 victory over Kansas City. Matsuzaka walked six in that game, upping his major league lead to 38. Red Sox fans just chew on it As to what he will do to correct the problem, Matsuzaka said, "It's not really something I prefer to discuss out in the open, but rather something I need to digest within myself."