BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, the AL leader in home runs and RBIs, will have more tests for heart palpitations before he returns to the lineup.
The tests will take a few days, said Red Sox medical director Thomas Gill on Tuesday.
Ortiz felt heart palpitations about 10 days ago and again before Monday night's game in Oakland, when he was a late scratch from the lineup. He returned to Boston for more tests.
''He will get a clean bill of health before he plays again,'' manager Terry Francona said in Oakland. ''The games are important, but we have a responsibility to do what's right.''
Ortiz was admitted to the hospital on Aug. 19 for a full examination and tests. Based on the results of those tests, he was cleared to return when he felt better.
''David had not experienced any additional episodes of palpitations until Monday evening,'' Gill said. ''With the recurrence of these symptoms, we would like David to be fully examined and tested before he is allowed to return to the field.''
Ortiz, one of the top contenders for the AL MVP award, is batting .287 with a league-leading 47 homers and 121 RBIs.
The Red Sox are -114 favorites on tonight when they take on the Oakland A's. The total is set at 9.