This is a different type of dilemma for the Red Sox.

They usually aren’t presented with a scenario in which a player wants to try to play through an injury. Usually it’s a player saying he’s hurt and goes on the disabled list. But this is Dustin Pedroia, and he’s not your average ballplayer.

Pedroia is a throwback. Pedroia is tough and wants to play through what he revealed Tuesday night was a tear in the muscle in his right thumb.

“I had an MRI this morning and our hand specialist looked at it as did Dr. [Donald] Sheridan in Arizona, who did my hamate bone surgery in 2007. I got a tear in my abductor muscle in my thumb. It’s a muscle so I’m just waiting to see how I feel the next couple of days. The swelling in my thumb has gone down. The bruising has gone down so we’re just waiting to see if I could play,’’ Pedroia said.

The second baseman, who missed his first game of the season Tuesday night, hopes to avoid the disabled list for what is normally a 2-4 week injury.

“I’m optimistic,’’ Pedroia said. “We’re still talking about it and if the swelling and stuff goes down, I won’t miss that much time.’’

When asked if he could further damage it if he played through, Pedroia said, “I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. I just want to be here for the guys. If I can protect it when I hit, we’ll be all right. Hopefully, I heal quick and I can get back out there as soon as I can. My ligaments and tendons are fine. It’s the only muscle in the thumb. I have to wait for it to calm down and see if I can hit with a splint or a brace or something. And we’ll go on from there.’’

Pedroia said surgery was never mentioned. The injury is similar to one suffered by Kevin Youkilis, but not as severe. Youkilis required surgery.

“Youk’s was a lot worse,’’ Pedroia said. “He had some other things. I lucked out. Where I did mine is the meatiest part of my thumb, so there is some good news.’’