The Pacific League's Orix Buffaloes deactivated right-hander Brandon Dickson on Friday with a rib injury.

Dickson suffered the injury in a game against the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks on Tuesday. He was examined at a Kobe hospital on Thursday and was diagnosed with right intercostal muscle damage.

It is unclear how long it will take for the injury to heal and the former St. Louis Cardinals hurler will focus on treatment and rehabilitation.

The 30-year-old Dickson, who is in his third season in Japan, suffered the same injury in July and was out for roughly a month. He is 9-9 in 20 games this season with a 2.48 ERA.