Schilling May Miss Another 12 Weeks

Curt Schilling’s return from an injury to his surgically repaired right ankle could take up to 12 weeks.

Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said on Thursday he doesn’t know when his ace will return from the disabled list, but acknowledged that he heard it could be as long as three months.

The extended rehabilitation period was first reported Wednesday in the Boston Herald, who cited unnamed sources.

Schilling was injured April 23 when he bruised a bone in his right ankle while pitching at Tampa Bay. He had surgery on the ankle in November after pitching with a different injury in the American League championship series and World Series.

Schilling, who doesn’t speak to the media, has been throwing from about 150 feet recently.

“His ankle was in the boot for three weeks. He’s got to build up strength,” Francona said. “He’s making progress.”

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Baltimore Oriole left-hander Erik Bedard was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained ligament in his left knee.

Bedard (5-1, 2.08 earned-run average) has been the most efficient pitcher in the Oriole starting rotation, winning five in a row since April 18 to help the team stay in first place in the American League East.

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Cleveland starter Kevin Millwood was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right groin. The club also recalled left-hander Brian Tallet from triple-A Buffalo.

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The Washington Nationals made nine roster moves, signing reliever C.J. Nitkowski, putting right-handers Jon Rauch and John Patterson on the 15-day disabled list, transferring outfielder Terrmel Sledge from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL, designating struggling right-hander Claudio Vargas for assignment, optioning right-hander Zach Day to triple-A New Orleans, activating right-handed reliever T.J. Tucker from the 15-day DL, and promoting outfielder Tyrell Godwin and right-handed pitcher Sun-woo Kim from New Orleans.

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Toronto ace Roy Halladay is set to start Sunday after being pushed back a few days because of a strained muscle on his left side.... A man who allegedly threw a cup of beer on Yankee player Jason Giambi has been charged with misdemeanor battery, according to the Alameda County (Calif.) District Attorney’s Office.... Toronto third baseman Corey Koskie will be out up to two months after having surgery to repair a broken right thumb and ligament damage.