Seibu Lions right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was deactivated Sunday with an injured groin, officials of the Pacific League club said.
Matsuzaka tweaked his groin in the first inning of Saturday's game against the Lotte Marines and left the mound after throwing just 19 pitches at Nagano Olympic Stadium. According to his trainer, Matsuzaka will not go to a hospital to receive treatment.
Pitching coach Daisuke Araki said Matsuzaka will probably return to the rotation after missing only one of his scheduled starts. The 25-year-old right-hander is expected to start against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on July 7 at Invoice Seibu Dome.